SHA's opening remarks at "Territory-Wide Cleansing Day" press conference

Friday, April 18, 2003

The following are the opening remarks of the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, at the "Territory-Wide Cleansing Day" press conference today (April 18):
Good afternoon,

I am very pleased to see the tremendous support the community has given to our Territory-Wide Cleansing Day that will take place during the Easter weekend in our fight against Atypical Pneumonia.

The disease has been causing worries and concerns to the community for some time now. The Government has been making a lot of efforts to improve environmental hygiene. The clean-up weekend we organized three weeks ago received territory-wide response. However, such clean-up efforts are not one-off exercises and must be sustained, especially during this critical time.

On Saturday and Sunday, we are organizing a series of clean-up events in all the 18 districts to demonstrate the concerted efforts of the entire community in combating Atypical Pneumonia.

The Government and the District Offices will spearhead this in an effort to encourage Hong Kong citizens to clean their homes, offices, schools, public areas and districts, and help drive home the message of best practices of hygiene in the community, starting at the individual level, with ourselves, our homes, the buildings we live and work in, and extending to public areas.

A wide cross section of the community will be involved in these district events. For example:
- District Councils/Area Committees/Rural Committees;
- Clean Hong Kong District Promotion Committee comprising representatives from all 18 districts;
- Hong Kong Council of Social Service, non-governmental organizations and charitable organisations;
- Community Support Committee;
- Owners' Corporations/Mutual Aid Committees/other residents associations of private buildings;
- private management companies and the Association of Property Management Companies;
- the media;
- volunteer groups such as civil service volunteer groups; and
- other local organizations such as Yin Ngai Society and Kaifong Associations, etc.

The Cleansing Day is to demonstrate the determination, the concerted effort and solidarity of the community in fighting the disease. We will physically clean up various types of environmental hygiene black spots. We will also demonstrate the care and concern of our community towards those in need, such as the elderly who live alone.

During the weekend we will clean up a great variety of venues, ranging from public housing, private housing, environmental hygiene black spots, to social, educational institutions and commercial premises, as well as engaging all sectors of the community.

The places that will be cleaned up include:
(a) Multi-storey buildings
(1) public housing
(2) common parts of private housing

(b) Environmental black spots
(1) problematic lanes - removal of refuse, pest control and handling of choked drains
(2) problematic private streets/back lanes - removal of refuse, pest control and handling of choked drains

(c) Social and educational institutions
(1) elderly hostels
(2) hostels for disabled
(3) schools

(d) Commercial premises (1) markets
(2) restaurants
(3) shopping centres
(4) office buildings

Longer Term Plans

The Territory-Wide Cleansing Day is to highlight the concerted efforts by the entire community in combating Atypical Pneumonia. All these cleansing efforts should continue. We will continue to encourage the community to join hands in keeping the environment clean. We are hopeful that this territory-wide cleansing exercise can be sustained, and will turn into a multi-sector, community-based, action-oriented campaign which calls upon every Hong Kong citizen to join together, to fight the disease, and to face this challenge head on in a positive way. After all, personal and environmental hygiene is an attitude, a way of life.