What it takes to get action from food and hygiene officials

Anyone who has ever lodged a complaint with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department must have been gobsmacked by the speed of its response to the complaint about the June 4-related artworks erected in Times Square ('Tiananmen art show in piazza shut down', May 30).

According to Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow Yat-ngok, the food and environmental hygiene officers 'were following existing rules'.

In that case, why do I have complaints outstanding over a decade with regard to dripping air-conditioners in Nathan Road and other streets in Tsim Sha Tsui?

Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, a person shall be guilty of an offence if he allows his ventilating system to emit hot air or to discharge water in such a manner as to be a nuisance. The penalty is HK$10,000 and a daily fine of HK$200.

This regulation was rolled over in 1997 yet, as we enter the summer of 2010, it is obvious that it is not being enforced. This is in spite of countless complaints to the department from locals and unfortunate tourists.

There are numerous existing rules that the department does nothing to enforce, among them are:

Commercial organisations, like mobile phone, pay TV and beauty companies, are allowed to set up booths on our streets without applying for or being granted the requisite permit;