SEN visits Yau Tsim Mong District (with photos)
***********************************************
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council (YTMDC), Mr Chris Ip, and the District Officer (Yau Tsim Mong), Mrs Laura Aron, Mr Wong first toured REstore, an independent shop in Yau Ma Tei. Run by non-profit-making organisation Life Workshop, REstore preserves the history, culture and local character of the district and promotes the community economy through training programmes on traditional skills and selling products on behalf of old district shops, as well as organising exhibitions and guided tours. A social enterprise named 1UP, which sells local handcrafts and provides working and internship opportunities for grass-roots families and young people, is located on the first floor of the store. Mr Wong also chatted with youths there to learn about their daily lives.
Afterwards, Mr Wong visited New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter with the Vice Chairman of the YTMDC, Ms Wong Shu-ming, and Environmental Protection Department (EPD) officers to observe its water quality and odour situation. Concerns have been raised over the water quality of the typhoon shelter. Rainwater in Mong Kok and Tai Kok Tsui is currently discharged into New Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter via the Cherry Street box culvert. EPD officers said the department has collaborated with other departments to implement various measures to prevent pollution at source and control the amount of pollutants entering the typhoon shelter. Apart from regular clearing of outfalls, sewerage and drainage improvement works have been conducted to mitigate near-shore pollution and improve the water quality and odour problem of the typhoon shelter.
Mr Wong then departed for Wai On Street in Tai Kok Tsui to inspect the outcome of the trial scheme of setting up surveillance camera systems. The local community has all along been concerned about the illegal disposal of construction waste in the vicinity of Tai Kok Tsui. The EPD has installed two surveillance cameras at the junction of Wai On Street and Kok Cheung Street to assist in combating the illegal disposal of construction waste. The EPD said illegal disposal activities have been reduced significantly since the installation of cameras. When the situation warrants and resources permit, the department will install surveillance cameras at other illegal disposal black spots in the district, and will continue to inspect the sites and conduct blitz operations, so as to step up enforcement actions against illegal disposal of construction waste.
Mr Wong also went through the vicinity of Ka Sin Street and was briefed by Mrs Aron on the operations of the recycling industry there and the follow-up work done by various departments.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Wong met with YTMDC members to listen to their views on the Government's environmental policies and to exchange views on district environmental affairs. Mr Wong said the Government has announced the modified implementation arrangements for municipal solid waste (MSW) charging to enable the charging regime to achieve the polluter-pays principle to a greater extent. To complement the introduction of MSW charging, the Government will beef up the support for recycling, including setting up an outreach team for various districts to provide on-site guidance and assistance to residents and property management companies in implementing MSW charging and practising clean recycling. Mr Wong said the Government will continue to collaborate with District Councils and other stakeholders to prepare for territory-wide waste reduction.
Ends/Friday, November 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:10
Issued at HKT 14:10
NNNN
Photo
