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In an effort to improve environmental hygiene, the Government launched
the Clean Hong Kong Programme in December 2000 to address Hong Kong's
environmental hygiene conditions and to bring about improvements. The
FEHD continued to take the leading role in the programme during the year.
After the outbreak of SARS, the Chief Executive appointed
a special task force, called 'Team Clean', in May to develop a comprehensive
strategy and formulate new means to improve the cleanliness of the living
environment. The FEHD was involved in spearheading the implementation
of a wide range of new environmental hygiene improvement measures. The
department carried out measures such as enhancing cleansing and washing
of public places, environmental 'black spots', private lanes and common
areas of old tenement buildings; intensifying rodent and pest control
work; and enhancing the collection of bagged refuse at on-street dumping
spots.
In order to stamp out the irresponsible and unhygienic
acts of littering and spitting, the Government proposed, and the Legislative
Council approved, an increase in the fixed penalty against common cleanliness
offences (that is, littering, spitting, unauthorised display of bills
or posters and fouling of street by dog faeces) from $600 to $1,500, with
effect from June 26, 2003, to enhance the deterrent effect of the legislation.
All enforcement departments, including the FEHD, adopted a 'zero tolerance'
approach in administering the law. By December 31, over 9 100 fixed penalty
notices of $1,500 had been issued.
On the publicity and public education front, Clean
Hong Kong messages were disseminated to the public through television
and radio Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs), posters and banners,
and advertisements on public transport and at large-scale publicity functions.
Educational efforts were also directed at various target groups, for example
tourists and road users. Clean Hong Kong messages were incorporated in
school curricula, and extra-curricular activities and school talks were
organised for over 30 000 students. In community involvement, community
groups have been invited to organise activities to promote public awareness
in keeping the environment clean.
The FEHD runs the Clean Hong Kong Funding Scheme,
providing a maximum subsidy of $15,000 for each project. During the year,
93 organisations were allocated funds to arrange activities. District
Councils and District Clean Hong Kong Committees also organised 280 district
promotional, educational and physical clean-up activities. Moreover, 3
463 voluntary helpers were appointed Clean Hong Kong Ambassadors and District
Hygiene Squad members to help disseminate the Clean Hong Kong message
and monitor district hygiene conditions.
The multi-pronged approach of enhancing cleansing
operations, enforcement action, public education and publicity, as well
as community and district involvement, has brought about visible improvement
in the overall cleanliness of Hong Kong.
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