LC: Speech by CS in presenting Government Minute in response to Report No. 84 of Public Accounts Committee
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President,
Laid on the table today is the Government Minute (GM) responding to Report No. 84 of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) presented to the Legislative Council (LegCo) on July 23, 2025.
I welcome the Report of the PAC and am grateful for the devotions and contributions by the Chairman of the PAC, the Hon Shiu Ka-fai, and members of the PAC. The Government accepts PAC's various recommendations and sets out in detail in the GM the specific responses of the relevant bureau and departments (B/Ds). The PAC conducted public hearings on the chapters on Management of Mandatory Window Inspection Scheme (MWIS) by the Buildings Department (BD) and Street cleansing services of the Director of Audit's Report No. 84. I would like to highlight the key measures taken and progress made by the two departments in response to the recommendations.
Management of MWIS by the BD
With regard to MWIS, the BD has enhanced the mechanism for selecting target buildings based on risk-based principles, which includes re-issuance of MWIS notices to buildings involved in fallen window incidents in the preceding year with previous MWIS notices served for more than five years. The BD has also completed the analysis on the causes of the 445 fallen window incidents and identified multiple risk factors leading to such incidents. The follow-up measures include incorporating buildings identified as having a higher risk of falling windows into the criteria for selecting target buildings, strengthening the efforts in education and publicity, particularly during rainy and typhoon seasons as well as prior to the Lunar New Year so as to enhance owners’ safety awareness of the proper use, maintenance and cleaning of windows.
Regarding the follow-up actions on the compliance status of MWIS notices, the BD has strengthened internal supervision and monitoring by regularly reviewing the progress and promptly escalating complex cases to higher levels for handling through a three-tier structure led by directorate officers. Moreover, to ensure that the work of qualified persons (QPs) responsible for window inspection meets its requirements, the BD will raise the target number of sample checking and audit checks to be conducted by the BD staff by 20 per cent to 600 cases each year, thereby enhancing monitoring efforts.
The BD will continue to enhance work efficiency by leveraging technology and streamlining procedures. Upon completion of the system revamp by the end of this year, the BD's computer system will automatically generate warning letters to non-compliant owners and provide prompt notifications to BD staff to complete work in a timely manner. The BD will also explore the development of an artificial intelligence system with a view to processing relevant forms submitted by QPs under MWIS more efficiently.
Finally, the Government will introduce an amendment bill to the Buildings Ordinance into the LegCo in the first half of 2026. The proposed amendments will include measures to boost the compliance rate of MWIS notices, such as increasing the fixed penalty and maximum penalty levels for non-compliance with MWIS notices, and introducing a new offence of non-compliance with MWIS notices which ended up with personal injury or property damage with a view to further enhancing deterrence.
Street cleansing services
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is committed to providing a clean and hygienic living environment for the public. To achieve this goal, the Department has introduced various measures over the past few years to enhance and strengthen the monitoring of street cleansing services, enhance enforcement efficiency, as well as promote public education.
On monitoring of the services, the FEHD has updated guidelines and workflows, and has been continuously monitoring the compliance and execution by duty officers and contractors in order to step up monitoring of the contractor's performance in street cleansing. In addition, the FEHD is working to upgrade the electronic management systems to enable electronic submission, update and approval of work programmes and reports by duty officers of the contractors and the Department, so as to further enhance the Department's efficiency in monitoring the street cleansing services.
The FEHD has set up Dedicated Enforcement Teams (DETs) since 2017 to combat litter offences so as to strengthen the effectiveness of enforcement. Since October 2023, the fixed penalty for littering and unlawful depositing of waste have been raised substantially. Comparing the 12 months before and after the raise in penalty, the number of fixed penalty notices issued by the FEHD for these two types of offences has drastically reduced by 30 per cent, reflecting an improvement in enforcement effectiveness as a whole. To further boost the operational efficiency of the DETs, the FEHD has updated the work records of the teams and relevant operational guidelines. A comprehensive review will also be conducted on the number, distribution and establishment of the teams.
In addition, the FEHD will continue to review the situation of illegal deposit of refuse at locations with Internet Protocol cameras installed and plans to increase the installation points from 500-odd at present to more than 1 500 within one year, in order to further expand the monitoring areas and enhance enforcement efficiency.
The FEHD has also been actively applying technologies to improve the quality and efficiency of street cleansing services. Currently, the Department has widely used the mini-street washing vehicles equipped with pressure washer surface cleaners, and is testing various new equipment, including automated sweeping robots, electrically assisted trolleys and industrial grade robot dogs for transporting heavy items. Apart from enhancing work efficiency, such equipment can also help ease the physical burden on frontline staff and lower the risk of workplace injuries. The Department will proactively promote the work on this front.
In addition, the FEHD reviews from time to time the arrangements for outsourcing services to ensure the adoption of the most suitable mode of service delivery having regard to the operational needs, service nature and effectiveness. The Department is also reviewing the existing payment amount to be deducted in case of contractors' default and the related tender scoring system. Adjustments will be actively considered to encourage contractors to provide quality service. Meanwhile, the FEHD is reviewing the verification mechanism for contractor's compliance with contract terms, especially employment-related provisions. The Department will review existing guidelines and explore the feasibility of increasing the number of meetings with non-skilled staff so as to ensure compliance with the contract terms by contractors and protection of staff rights.
President, I would like to thank the PAC again for its efforts and suggestions. The B/Ds concerned will strictly adhere to their responses and implement various improvement measures as set out in the GM with full efforts.
Thank you, President.
Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 14:50
Issued at HKT 14:50
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