"Keep Clean 2015@Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign officially launched (with photos)
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     The Government today (August 1) launched a two-month territory-wide "Keep Clean 2015@Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign, with an aim to keep Hong Kong clean through concerted efforts of the Government, the community and the public in maintaining good personal, home and community hygiene.

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, today officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the campaign.

     Addressing the audience, Mrs Lam said, "In order to keep Hong Kong clean and tidy, sole reliance on the efforts of government departments would not suffice. To achieve a clean Hong Kong, we need mutual co-operation among all sectors of the community and active participation of each and every citizen who treats Hong Kong as home.

     "One of the objectives of the campaign is to enhance public awareness of their responsibility to upkeep personal, home and community hygiene, so as to make keeping environment clean as our internalised routine."

     A total of eight bureaux, 19 Government departments and public organisation participate in the campaign. During the campaign, more than 90 events will be organised in the 18 districts to improve environmental and home hygiene. The participating bureaux and departments will formulate work plans to step up cleansing work in areas under their purview. They will also work closely with the District Councils, owners' corporations, mutual aid committees and community organisations to step up promotion and public education in a bid to encourage different sectors to participate actively in the campaign.

     Government departments will study in depth ways to deal with some deep-seated environmental hygiene problems, with a view to further improving the environmental hygiene of Hong Kong.  In particular, relevant government departments will improve the environmental hygiene conditions of the common areas of "three nil" buildings, private streets and rear lanes, proactively clear up shoreline refuse and step up efforts to monitor and combat illegal dumping of construction waste.

     The Government will also thoroughly review some existing practices, such as the tendering arrangements, management and monitoring of outsourcing contracts for street cleansing and refuse collection services, as well as the hygiene blackspots falling into grey area as a result of unclear division of responsibilities between the private sector and the Government, or among different departments, with a view to making improvements in a targeted manner.

     Also officiating at the ceremony today were the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing; the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, and Chairmen or Vice-Chairmen of the 18 District Councils.

Ends/Saturday, August 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 13:41

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