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SCMP Reporter

HONGKONG'S lavatorial ambassador has returned home after the first International Toilet Symposium in Japan proved to be more than just a flash in the pan.

  Urban Council Chairman Dr Ronald Leung Ding-bong spent three days at the conference in Kobe representing Hongkong's efforts to clean up public toilets and learning how other countries do it.

  And to crown his trip he was given an award for his contribution to thrones in the Asian region and asked to host the next symposium in two years.

  Dr Leung, who took up the toilet issue after being driven potty by dirty, unhygienic facilities, said: ''I think this will improve the Urban Council's image worldwide because we are so energetic about the subject and we have achieved so much in such a short time.

  ''People at the conference applauded that.''   Dr Leung presented delegates with some reading matter to fill in quiet moments - the council's 20-page book of planning standards and guidelines for public toilets.

  But as he was given only 15 minutes to speak he concentrated on outlining research into squatting and resting times in Asian toilets.

  He also discussed the council's efforts to make toilets brighter, to improve ventilation, lighting, paper supply and other problems.

  Dr Leung said he returned with an armful of schemes.

  ''I have a lot of material but I have not had time to digest it yet,'' he said.

  ''I will make some reports from what I have learned and we will pick out some new ideas.''   There was some light relief for delegates - a lecture by a representative of Austria's sanitary museum which exhibits some of the world's most beautiful porcelain pans, including some used by royalty.

  Other countries attending the conference were Japan, France, the United States, South Korea, Thailand, China and Taiwan.



Toilet talk cleans up council image