Audit report finds nearly 600 complaints have not been acted on after a year, and $310m restaurant scheme failed
The hygiene campaign launched with much fanfare by Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's 'Team Clean' after the Sars outbreak has fallen foul of bureaucratic confusion, with scores of complaints left unanswered and key initiatives failing or being delayed.
The revelation was disclosed yesterday in a Director of Audit report that criticised three government departments for failing to follow through on measures established by Team Clean - which was headed by Mr Tsang when he was chief secretary.
The report, hailed by a health expert as timely in the face of widening bird flu outbreaks, said the Home Affairs Department had failed to co-ordinate efforts by government departments and district offices to maintain a high degree of hygiene.
It said the Housing Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had also fallen down on hygiene issues.
It found that almost 600 complaints filed in two districts in a so-called rapid-response system set up by Team Clean had not been acted on after more than a year.
It said a $310 million incentive scheme to improve hygiene in restaurants appeared to have failed and efforts to set up district hygiene squads had lost momentum in many districts despite an enthusiastic initial response.