New approach to tackle on-street clothes cages

The Government will adopt a 'zero tolerance' approach and take strict enforcement action in relation to used clothes collection cages placed on streets.

The tough approach is to better respond to people's aspirations for a cleaner and tidier environment.

At a press conference today (June 26), the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Mrs Carrie Lam said that all on-street cages would be immediately removed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in blitz operations co-ordinated by District Officers starting mid-July. The press conference was also attended by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Mr Gregory Leung and the Director of Lands Mr Patrick Lau.

Mrs Lam said: "It is an offence for any person to place any thing that causes or may cause obstruction or inconvenience to people or vehicle in public places without lawful authority; and owners of those things will be prosecuted in accordance with Section 4A of the Summary Offences Ordinance."

"Owners of cages now placed illegally on the streets are urged to remove them voluntarily before enforcement action commences," she added.

Referring to the large number of complaints about on-street cages received by Government departments and repeated concerns expressed by District Councils, Mrs Lam said that on-street cages not only adversely affected Hong Kong's cityscape, but also caused obstruction and inconvenience to pedestrians.

"It is time for us to act decisively to eradicate the problem.

"The new approach is in line with the policy directive of the Chief Executive who, in his 2005-06 Policy Address, stated that government should enhance its work in districts through more effective co-ordination by District Officers. It is also a timely illustration of what may be achieved through recommendations in the District Council Review, currently under public consultation," Mrs Lam said.

At present, used clothes collection cages illegally placed on streets are removed by either the Lands Department or the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in accordance with Section 6(1) of the Land (Miscellaneous Provision) Ordinance and Section 22 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance respectively.

In resorting to the Land (Miscellaneous Provision) Ordinance, the Land Authority gives a day's notice to the owner before taking enforcement action, while four hours of prior notice must be allowed under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.

"The limitation of these two pieces of legislation makes enforcement action ineffective as owners of the cages can easily satisfy the legal requirement of the removal notice by moving the cages to a nearby location," Mrs Lam said.

"Cross-departmental efforts with a clear steer and direction from the senior level are needed to resolve this problem encountered in most of the 18 districts."

An ad hoc high-level steering committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, modelled on the Steering Committee on District Administration proposed in the consultation document on Review on the Role, Functions and Composition of District Councils released in end-April, was set up last month for top management of relevant departments to work concertedly to find a solution to the problem.

While all on-street cages will be immediately removed through effective enforcement, the Government is also launching a community participation scheme in partnership with the District Councils and relevant NGOs to facilitate members of the community to donate old clothes in support of environmental protection and a charitable cause.

"To support initiatives on recycling and reducing waste, we are publicizing existing channels for collecting used clothes, and shall invite district-based non-profit making organisations to manage recycling "banks" to be placed under designated off-street spots to be identified by District Officers," Mrs Lam said.

Note:

1. The problem of used clothes placed illegally on streets is most serious in Central & Western District, Eastern District, Southern District, Kowloon City District, Yau Tsim Mong District and Kwai Tsing District. The Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of all the 18 District Councils have been briefed on the new approach and have given their full support.

2. The District Officer co-ordinated blitz operations to remove cages on streets will commence by mid-July in order to give a reasonable period for owners to remove their illegally placed cages voluntarily. Also, there is the need to tie in with the discontinuation of the Designated Site Scheme operated by the Lands Department under which some NGO cages are placed in designated spots on streets with the approval of the Lands Department.

Ends/Monday, June 26, 2006