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Following is a question by the Hon Howard Young and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr W K Lam, in the Legislative Council today (June 5):

Question:

I have learnt that due to the recent surge of visitors to Hong Kong and the closure of toilets in some premises in the vicinity of Repulse Bay Beach which are being redeveloped, there is a shortage of public toilets at Repulse Bay Beach. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of complaints received in the past twelve months in this regard; and

(b) whether it will consider providing temporary mobile toilets at Repulse Bay Beach, such as near the Hong Kong Life Saving Society?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Over the past twelve months, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department respectively received one complaint referred by the Tourism Commission in relation to public toilets at the Repulse Bay Beach.

(b) At present, two public toilets are provided at the Repulse Bay managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). They are respectively located at the Beach Services Building in the middle of the beach and the Eastern Services Building (adjacent to the Lido Building). Moreover, there are also four public toilets provided by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in the vicinity of the beach. They are located respectively at the entrance to the Tin Hau Square, Beach Road, the Bus terminal at Repulse Bay and the vicinity of Sea View Building. On the other hand, on the west side of the beach, there are also public toilet facilities in the Seaview Building managed by a term contractor. Therefore, the existing toilet facilities at the beach and in the vicinity should in general be able to cater for the needs of the visitors.

In early March this year, the Tourism Commission had issued a memorandum to the LCSD and the FEHD respectively to refer a tourist guide's views on the inadequacy of toilets near Tin Hau Square, Repulse Bay. At that time, as renovation works were being carried out in the public toilets located at the entrance to Tin Hau Square as well as the Eastern Services Building, visitors had to take a 3-minute walk to the public toilet located in the Beach Services Building or to the toilet in its vicinity. Renovation works on the public toilet located at the entrance to Tin Hau Square were completed on May 7 this year and the toilet has been opened for public use immediately. The situation has been improved. As for the renovation works on the toilet located in the Eastern Services Building, it is scheduled for completion in late June this year and will then be reopened for public use. The Architectural Services Department is now planning to provide temporary toilets in the vicinity of the Eastern Services Building for the use of the public during the works so as to further improve toilet facilities near the beach.

End/Wednesday, June 5, 2002

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