Health and Hygiene

Planning for a Healthy and Hygienic Living Environment

To improve the drainage network of our public rental housing (PRH) estates, we have implemented an ongoing comprehensive inspection and repair programme.

In 2003/04, an academic institute was commissioned to audit the drainage design of our standard harmony blocks. Based on the audit findings, we updated our Specification Library to incorporate changes in specifications and testing requirements for all new contracts.

We continued to undertake technical reviews of our re-entrant design to allow for easy inspection and maintenance from common corridors. Further to the incorporation of 2-way floor drains in 2002, we are now preparing for the trial of sunken shower areas in the coming year. In addition, the use of a common w-trap in drainage systems was tested in the past year, with results accepted in principle by the Buildings Department and the Independent Checking Unit of the Housing Department. This new design will be adopted for new PRH domestic flats subject to the flat layout and drainage configuration.

In 2004/05, we undertook a study of new refuse handling systems aimed at improving the hygienic conditions of waste collection. Two new refuse handling systems, the Central Compactor System (CCS) and the Distributed Compactor System (DCS), have been endorsed by the Housing Authority (HA)’s Building Committee for implementation in newly constructed housing estates in the coming year. The CCS is proposed to be installed in housing estates of more than 2 400 flats as it will handle larger daily refuse outputs, while the DCS, with its smaller handling capacity, will be fitted into housing estates of less than 2 400 flats. A higher level of cleanliness and hygiene is achieved through a combination of control devices at the bottom of both systems, to prevent over packing of the refuse storage bins and spillage during collection and transportation. The feasibility of implementation in existing housing estates will also be examined.

The “Drainage Ambassador Scheme”, which commenced in 2003, was completed in May 2004. With the assistance of over 100 ambassadors, we have performed inspections for some 430 000 flats and completed all drainage repairs identified. Another programme has been established to replace seriously corroded cast-iron drainage stacks inside flats at 18 estates by 2006.

Up to the end of March 2005, such replacement works have been completed in nine estates. We have completed the fourth round of half-yearly inspections of drainage pipes installed in common areas and external walls since 2003 and rectified those identified defects accordingly.

A three-level Response System: Alert Level, Levels 1 and 2 has also been adopted to ensure an efficient and responsive internal management system to deal with possible resurgence of SARS. The system sets out clear operational guidelines at each alarm level for frontline staff and property management companies, with actions to be taken in public housing estates as well as non-domestic properties depending on the scale and nature of risk. We continued to conduct practice drills to enhance the alertness and preparedness of our frontline staff.

A tighter schedule was also set for cleansing contractors to clean up public areas such as lift control panels, playground equipment, recreational facilities and public toilets with 1:99 diluted bleaching agent. Canopies and refuse collection points were disinfected at least once daily.

Since May 2004, Special Task Force Teams have been assigned to monitor construction sites. The teams are responsible for carrying out weekly inspections and removing mosquito breeding black spots by clearing stagnant water and spraying larvicidal oil. Mosquito-catching apparatuses have been installed in strategic locations at PRH estates.

In 2004/05, over 9 500 inspections were conducted in our estates and construction sites, with larvicidal oil sprayed at more than 72 500 potential breeding grounds. In addition, the clearing of clogged drains was expedited by performing over 700 desilting operations.

At our construction sites, a total of nine mosquito breeding convictions were recorded in 2004/05, with the offending contractors duly fined. Our inspectors have continued to monitor the contractors to verify that improvement have been implemented.

Educational Campaign Launched

In 2004/05, a Junior Mosquito Inspectors Programme was introduced as part of our massive educational campaign. The Housing Department joined hands with 20 primary schools to recruit students as Junior Mosquito Inspectors to help disseminate anti-mosquito messages to their families and friends.

Furthermore, we co-operated with estate management companies and Estate Management Advisory Committees to carry out joint educational efforts. These included poster displays in lift lobbies and educational video shows in estate offices. Leaflets on the prevention of mosquito breeding were also distributed to our tenants.

As a new initiative, action under the Marking Scheme for Tenancy Enforcement [Reference to Residents and the Community] will be taken against households where stagnant water is found to have mosquito breeding.

Other Measures for a Hygienic Living Environment

In our estates, accumulation of rubbish on the top of canopies and air-conditioners, dumping of abandoned objects in common areas, and illegal cooked food hawking are common hygiene problems. To combat these, the Housing Authority (HA) has continued to implement measures such as cleaning up hygiene black spots, enhancing refuse collection, providing drainage checks and stamping out illegal cooked food hawking in PRH estates.

Under the hygienic living environment schemes launched in 2003, improvements have been achieved in the following areas:

Marking Scheme for Tenancy Enforcement

Under this Scheme implemented since August 2003, points are allotted to households committing any one of the 20 public hygiene and health related misdeeds. Excluding non-recurrent misdeeds, which lapsed after two years, four households were allotted more than 16 points, 68 households 10 to 15 points, and 2 951 households less than 10 points. Households accumulating more than 16 points will receive notice-to-quit for the tenancy.

Stringent Enforcement Against Spitting and Littering

Further to the endorsement by the Legislative Council in June 2003 to raise the penalty for cleanliness offences, our enforcement teams have increased actions against spitting and littering in PRH estates. Since 26 June 2003 (and up to the end of March 2005), a  total  of  7 192 fixed penalty notices have been issued to offenders.

Restaurant and Factory Tenants

The relocation of cooked food stalls from open areas to enclosed premises continued in 2004/05. To maintain clean and hygienic conditions, cooked food stall tenants have been requested to regularly clean their stalls, grease traps, common areas and facilities. They are also requested to ensure all waste management practices and the handling/storage of dangerous or high polluting materials follow relevant regulations and guidelines.

To strengthen tenancy enforcement, a new Factory Marking Scheme will be launched in September 2005. The scheme will adopt a more stringent and objective measure to deal with irregularities generally found in factory estates.

The Scheme targets at offences associated with the abuse in the use of factory units, those with adverse effects on building control and environmental hygiene, or those posing a hazard to public safety.

Penalty points will be allotted according to the seriousness of offence and will be held valid for two years. Tenants will be alerted once the accrued points reached 10 or more. Action for tenancy termination will be triggered when the mark reaches 16.

Combating Illegal Cooked-Food Hawking

We continue to carry out joint enforcement with the Food, Environment and Health Department and the Police against illegal cooked-food hawkers in housing estates. In 2004/05, a total of 216 joint operations were executed.