More
money needed to
improve urban hygiene
Government
is spending $360 million to clean the city, while $11.6 billion was
allocated to recovery efforts
![](Social%20Issues/Team%20Clean/clean02.jpg)
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.
![](Social%20Issues/Team%20Clean/clean05.jpg)
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.
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