Action urged on street containers
Shopping may never have been easy in the overcrowded streets of Causeway Bay, but now there are even more obstructions to walking freely and safely.
A survey conducted by a political party found at least 16 large waste containers in busy streets in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
These uncovered containers are scattered in Lockhart Road, Jaffe Road, Gloucester Road, Luard Road and Hennessy Road.
'Some of them are placed on the corners of streets, which might pose a threat to passers-by or even drivers if they do not notice and bump into them,' said Lee Yuen-kwong, former chairman of the Wan Chai branch of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, adding that he had received a couple of complaints.
A recent DAB poll found that 74.4 per cent of 610 respondents were against placing such containers in streets. Most of them said they obstructed traffic, affected public hygiene and even posed fire risks.
However, some said the containers helped contain construction or demolition debris.
Almost all respondents said they supported legislation to regulate the use of such containers in terms of location, duration, ownership and additional environmental measures such as covers on containers.
A spokeswoman for the Lands Department said there was a proper channel through which people should apply to use a container.
He said those who did not obtain a licence from the Lands Department would be regarded as illegally occupying government land.
There have been 300 complaints this year for illegally setting up waste containers on the street.
