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money needed to
improve urban hygiene
Government is spending $360 million to clean the city, while $11.6 billion was allocated to recovery efforts
Before
(left) and after (right) Team Clean’s work.
(Courtesy of Team Clean)
By Kevin Mak
Team Clean was established in May 2003 to improve the hy-giene of Hong Kong. The Team was dismissed in August after a 3-month working period.
According to Team Clean’s official web page, its duties are to establish and promote “a sustainable and cross-sectoral approach” to make Hong Kong cleaner.
Team Clean finished its short-term plans on how to clean Hong Kong 3 weeks after its establishment. These plans focused on personal, home and community hygiene.
A long-term
system to clean Hong Kong was introduced 9 weeks later.
Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, chairperson of Team Clean, has a positive
attitude toward the work of the team.
“Our team has figured out the direction in cleaning Hong Kong,” said Mr. Tsang.
Shortly after the launch of the short-term plans, Team Clean conducted an opinion survey between 11 and 13 July.
Of the 1,200 respondents, 91 percent think that Hong Kong has become cleaner than before the SARS epidemic. Some 85 percent said the measures would gradually improve peoples’ habits in public hygiene.
Prof. Anthony Cheung of the Department of Public and Social Administration at City University of Hong Kong appreciates the overall performance of Team Clean.
Prof. Cheung said that the team had quickly implemented strategies to clean Hong Kong and was also efficient in the evaluation of its work.
However, Prof. Cheung said that Team Clean still has room for improvement.
“Its works are not impressive enough.
“The only easily remembered measure is the fixed penalty of $1,500,” he said.
“Other policies like the Marking Scheme for Tenancy Enforcement are not as good as expected. Citizens hardly know the details of the measures,” said Prof. Cheung.
Apart from ineffective promotions, Prof. Cheung pointed out that better allocation of resources is needed for cleaning Hong Kong.
Said he: “The government provides little funding for Team Clean.”
Team Clean was given a mere $360 million while the Hong Kong Harbour Fest cost the government up to $100 million.
“I don’t see any point in spending a little more only in rebuilding a city’s image than on a show.
“It seems that the government does not intend to improve city hygiene at this moment,” said Prof. Cheung.
“Bad city hygiene has been a problem in Hong Kong for over 30 years. Yet, the government did not really pay much attention to it.
“The outbreak of SARS drew the long existing problem of bad city hygiene back to us again,” he explained.
Warner Cheuk, deputy head of Team Clean, revealed that the government allocated about $11.6 billion on recovery work. The budget for the team turned out to be $360 million, which is the amount that Team Clean requested.
Despite that, he believes the funds are sufficient, and he said that they have more work lined up ahead.
“A budget of $360 million doesn’t mean that our team lacks resources.
“In fact, the team includes more than 20 government department directors.
There is sufficient staff to support our team,” said Mr. Cheuk.
“We are most concerned with the effectiveness of our work. The amount of money spent should come second,” he added.
Prof. Cheung expressed the need to have long-term measures to beautify Hong Kong.
He emphasized that instead of cleaning, rebuilding the city’s image should be the main focus of the team’s work.
He suggested that the government repair old buildings and pipes, and replace old public facilities.
Concerning the use of funding, Mr. Cheuk, deputy head of Team Clean, questioned Prof. Cheung’s idea of spending more funds on beautifying the city.
“Our job is to raise public awareness and encourage people to keep Hong Kong clean,” said Mr. Cheuk. “Public health is our major concern.”
Mr. Cheuk said works like repainting all the buildings are unnecessary and would cost the government too much.
After the dismissal of Team Clean, Home Affairs Department has been in charge of the co-ordination work of cleaning Hong Kong.
Prof. Cheung is worried about the future of Hong Kong’s hygiene.
“It is questionable if the current condition can be maintained,” said Prof. Cheung.
“The chief secretary’s office will monitor the work for only three more months.
It is possible that city hygiene will deteriorate, back to the situation before SARS,” he added.
However, as the deputy head of Team Clean, Mr. Cheuk has confidence in the long-term effect of Team Clean’s work.
“The Home Affairs Department is one of the largest departments in the government.
“We will see satisfying results under its leadership,” he said.
“We believe city hygiene will be good, not only for the time being, but also in the future,” affirmed Mr. Cheuk.
Team
Clean worked out plans to clean Hong Kong within three weeks. (Courtesy
of Team Clean)
Donald Tsang’s appointment to Team Clean sparks concern
By Kevin Mak
Cynthia Yip, a Year 1 Social Sciences student at The Uni-versity of Hong Kong, thinks that it would be a waste for Donald Tsang to work at Team Clean.
However, Himm Tang, a Year 2 Social Sciences student at the same university, regards the appointment as a good chance for Mr. Tsang to increase his popularity if he succeeds in the work.
Asked why was he chosen as the head of Team Clean in particular, Mr. Tsang paused for a while.
“Mr. Tung [Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa] didn’t choose me specially.
“He simply appointed someone with experience in community work.”
He added, “Others with such experiences can also take up the job.”
Legislative Council member Li Wah Ming, head of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, said Mr. Tsang’s leadership ability was one reason that he was appointed leader.
“Mr. Tsang is capable in meeting his responsibilities. Other department directors cannot lead as well as he did,” said Mr. Li.