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Following is a question by the Hon Albert Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (November 27):

Question:

It is noted that, although the refuse collection rooms in some public rental housing ("PRH") estates are equipped with chutes connecting all floors of the block, some cleaners do not make use of the chutes to transport the collected refuse. Moreover, as the refuse collection rooms in some PRH estates are often locked, residents dump their rubbish into the collection bins at the lift lobbies or place it outside their units outside the specified refuse collection hours. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :

(a) of the number of existing PRH estates that are equipped with refuse chutes, and their names by districts;

(b) among the PRH estates listed in the reply to (a), of the PRH estates in which the refuse chutes are not fully utilized, and the reasons for that; and

(c) whether it will consider allowing residents of the PRH estates to pour their rubbish into the chutes directly; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

My reply to the three-part question is as follows:

(a) Only four out of 148 public rental housing estates of the Housing Authority are not equipped with refuse chutes, namely, Sai Wan Estate in Hong Kong Island, Ngan Wan Estate and Lung Tin Estate in Lantau Island, and Cheung Kwai Estate in Cheung Chau.

(b) Of the 144 public housing estates equipped with refuse chutes mentioned above, the refuse chutes of some or all blocks in nine estates are not in use because of tenants' objection and geographical constraints. Specific reasons include nuisance to nearby residents as a result of noise generated by the chutes when in use, frequent blockage of refuse chutes causing inconvenience to tenants, and lack of direct vehicular access to remove rubbish from the collection points of refuse chutes. Details are set out at the Annex.

(c) To ensure safety and avoid blockage, refuse chutes should be used by cleansing workers who are familiar with the operational procedures. Hence, it is not appropriate to allow residents to use the refuse chutes to dispose of rubbish. As refuse chutes are installed inside the refuse rooms on each floor, to forestall occurrence of accidents and crimes inside the refuse rooms, the Housing Department should lock the doors of refuse rooms at all times.

End/Wednesday, November 27, 2002

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