LCQ13: Illegally affixed bills and posters
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Question:
Under section 104A of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), no bill or poster shall be displayed or affixed on any Government land, except with the written permission of the Authority. Some members of the public have relayed that since June this year, a large quantities of leaflets, posters, sticky notes, etc. have been affixed, for expression of various views, without permission at public places (e.g. footbridges, pedestrian subways and perimeter fences) in many districts. Such affixed items have not only caused environmental hygiene problems but also led to clashes among members of the public with different political views. However, the government departments concerned have not actively addressed the problem, making such members of the public feel very dissatisfied. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the government departments concerned have, since June this year, found any items affixed without their permission at the places under their management; if so, of the details, and whether they have forthwith removed such items; if they have not forthwith removed such items, of the reasons for that;
(2) whether the Government has, since June this year, assessed if it constitutes an administrative omission on the part of the departments concerned for failure to remove those illegally affixed items within a time period expected by members of the public; if it has assessed, of the outcome; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether it will make special arrangements to expedite the clearance of illegally affixed items; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (2) In the past few months, displays of bills without written permission of the Authority (commonly known as "Lennon Wall") have been found on Government land in various districts.
Relevant departments have been closely monitoring the situation, and conducting timely clean-up operations in their respective venues/public places (including locations which may affect pedestrians' safety or cause serious environmental hygiene problems). As at November 17, 2019, joint clean-up operations were conducted at some 160 locations across the territory by relevant departments.
(3) Inter-departmental joint clean-up operations on unauthorised displays are conducted on an ongoing basis. The Government has made its best effort to re-deploy existing manpower and engage additional staff as and when necessary to remove unauthorised displays in public places on Government land as soon as possible.
Ends/Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Issued at HKT 11:45
Issued at HKT 11:45
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