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Policy Address

A Liveable Hong Kong

District Environment

108. The District Matters Co-ordination Task Force, led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, has tackled more than 600 hygiene blackspots and stepped up routine cleansing efforts in some 4 000 locations across the city since mid-August. For the next step, we will:

  1. establish the standard mode of operation, through rationalising the responsibilities among departments and relevant workflow, for implementation in various districts to handle different environmental hygiene issues in an effective manner;

  2. conduct a comprehensive review on the existing statutory powers and penalties regarding environmental hygiene. The first stage is to consult the LegCo this year on the proposal to increase the existing fixed penalty level of $1,500 for offences such as littering and shopfront extension. Other proposed legislative amendments will be put forth in mid-2023; and

  3. liven up public space and improve streetscapes, including landscaping, beautifying road signs and upgrading street furniture.

109. To ameliorate the near-shore odour problems of Victoria Harbour, we will regularly monitor odour levels at stormwater drain outlets and rectify misconnections of sewer pipes. For the identified outfalls emanating stench in specific districts, we aim to reduce the amount of sewage discharged by half before end-2024.