A survey shows that people want the government to get serious with owners
Four out of five people polled in a recent survey have called for a cleanup of all dirty private streets and alleyways, giving the Legislative Council extra ammunition at today's meeting to pressure the government to take control of all poorly managed streets.
The telephone survey conducted by the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong over the past 12 days will be used to force the issue at a Legco motion debate today.
Last month, the government's Team Clean, led by Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, unveiled its list of measures for cleaning up the city.
Its interim report identified many back lanes and private streets said to be 'principle sources of filth and vermin which not only affect the appearance of our city but also threaten public health'.
The report said the government would resort to an 'act now, recover costs later' principle to clean up lanes and private streets - which were previously the responsibility of the owners.