Spruced-up blackspots please public
SEVENTY-FOUR hygiene blackspots have seen an improvement since March, according to ratings by the public.
As part of the Healthy Living in the 21st Century Campaign, 90 notoriously filthy locations - five from each of the 18 districts - were chosen for a clean-up.
Since the clean-up, the majority of 400 randomly chosen citizens responded positively to the changes in their environment.
Eighty-two per cent said there was an improvement in the blackspots, while 16 per cent said there was no improvement.
Another two per cent said the blackspots were dirtier than before.
Tsuen Wan district saw no improvement in any of its five identified spots, including the footbridge near Tsuen Wan MTR station, the figures showed.
One of its areas - the refuse collection point near a roadside bus stop in Tung Kau village - saw a slight deterioration.
All dirty locations in New Territories North and Sha Tin had seen a marked improvement, followed by Tai Po, Sai Kung and Wan Chai.
The blackspots were identified by various district management committees in March.
Principal Assistant Secretary for Health and Welfare Stephen Pang King-leung said 2,300 reports of hygiene blackspots had been received since the campaign started.
'The departments concerned have already started cleaning up 75 per cent of reported blackspots. They will also step up enforcement at those blackspots that have been cleaned,' Mr Pang said.
'The general public opinion is that Hong Kong is getting dirtier and people care less about their civic duties,' he said.
Restaurateurs and hoteliers will be the next targets of the campaign after preliminary studies showed the public was more concerned about the price and taste of food rather than the cleanliness of restaurants.
