MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, many people and visitors have told of the shortage of public toilets in various tourist hotspots such as Central, the Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, and also the poor hygiene there. The situation is even worse at other tourist spots in remote areas. But the problem has remained unresolved throughout, thus causing criticisms and tarnishing the image of Hong Kong as a metropolis. Can I ask whether the Chief Executive will consider starting a "public toilet revolution", with the aim of improving and upgrading the facilities and hygiene conditions in all public toilets of Hong Kong?

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): I thank Mr YIU for his question. It is indeed true that very often, public toilets will greatly affect visitors' impression of a certain place. Therefore, I am likewise very concerned about the cleanliness of our public toilets. I notice that the Mainland is having a top-down "public toilet revolution" with the objective of improving the hygiene conditions of public toilets. I can say to Mr YIU that we are likewise determined to improve the situation. And, in order to do so, we must, among other things, improve the manpower deployment for public toilets. For this reason, I have arranged some special meetings with the contractors responsible for cleaning and security in the public facilities under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. I invited them to suggest ways of improving and maintaining the cleanliness of public toilets. We will certainly follow up their suggestions. Some of their suggestions actually involve resources. If more resources are available, it will surely be possible to improve the hygiene conditions of public toilets. 

Thank you, Mr YIU.

 

Mr YIU. MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): Chief Executive, I agree that we must do more thinking about the "software"; this can at least help improve the existing hygienic conditions of our public toilets. But since Hong Kong is after all a metropolis, will the Chief Executive consider the idea of constructing some public toilets that are special and better in design at certain places, so as to give visitors to Hong Kong a new impression? For example, the toilets in the Central Market have been such an ugly sight for years, but Central is the heart of Hong Kong. I think the Chief Executive should pay more attention to the public toilets in this area. Alternatively, she may consider the building of iconic toilets in different districts to give the community a sense of freshness.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE (in Cantonese): Thank you for your supplementary question, Mr YIU. Since you refer to the Central Market in particular, I may as well tell you my feelings. I think the renovation of the public toilets in the Central Market has actually been put on hold for reasons of the Urban Renewal Authority's revitalization project to turn the Central Market into an oasis in the Central District. When the time comes, the toilets will be equipped with better facilities. But as disputes are so common in Hong Kong, this project has dragged on for years. Anyway, when I passed by the site recently, I found that it was already sealed off by wooden boards. I hope the works can be completed as soon as possible.