Most people would agree columbariums, garbage collection points and public toilets are necessary, but few want them built near their homes. The not-in-my-backyard, or nimby, mentality has been becoming more common in Hong Kong. A few months ago, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was angered by local objections to building columbariums in different districts. He called on residents to be more tolerant of unpopular facilities in their districts. Other nimby examples include residents in Kwai Fong who objected to a public toilet for the disabled; opposition in Yau Ma Tei to the relocation of a garbage collection station, which has delayed an extension of the Xiqu (Cantonese opera) activity centre for two years; and flushing toilets being denied to hikers and tourists on parts of Lantau where residents have objected to the upgrading of old-style aqua privies. The siting of an unpopular local facility always creates a dilemma between protection of local interests and the serving of societal needs. In the first case, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department wanted to build a new toilet for the disabled at the Wing Fong Street wet market in Kwai Fong. The toilet, originally scheduled for completion by July 2007, was part of the department's plan to improve conditions at six wet markets, including providing barrier-free access. Although the project was approved by the district council, residents of the nearby Mei Fung Building strongly objected to it. They said it would spoil the environment, creating a bad smell and more human traffic and blocking the market entrance. A department official said his team met residents about 10 times in a year but failed to change their mind. 'The residents said the toilets would be a psychological barrier,' he said. 'We offered to change the direction of the toilet entrance ... but they still said it would cause them stress.' The department was forced to abort the project. 'It is a pity that we cannot build a toilet for the disabled; they do have the right to a toilet in the market,' the official said. Kwai Tsing district councillor Ng Kim-sing said: 'Some residents want to live in a better environment, and a toilet is a place we don't want to live close to.' A Mei Fung Building resident said: 'The smell would affect us. The smell already isn't great without the toilet.' But some people in the area were concerned about the welfare of the disabled. A man who runs a printing shop opposite the market said he thought the toilet was necessary. 'Nobody wants to face a toilet every day, but since the market doesn't have one, it is obviously necessary. It would be unfair to the disabled not to cater to their needs.' Rehabilitation Alliance chairman Cheung Kin-fai said it was ridiculous that residents objected to the plan. 'Why would residents gather around there? It'll be a toilet,' he said. 'I can't believe these narrow-minded people still exist nowadays. Everyone may need these facilities someday, can't they see that?' Cheung also warned the residents and district councillors of the anti-discrimination ordinance. 'It should be a basic requirement for every building with normal toilets to have at least one for the disabled too,' he said. 'I don't see why other people's rights are greater than ours.' In Yau Mei Tei, objections to relocation of a garbage collection station have delayed the Xiqu activity centre. The government is converting two historic buildings - the Yau Ma Tei Theatre and the Red Brick Building - into the activity centre, which will have a 300-seat auditorium and multi-function rooms for performance and promotion of Cantonese opera. The first phase of the project is due to be completed next year. The second phase involves moving the existing Shanghai Street garbage collection point next to the two buildings for a new block to house the rehearsal rooms and toilets. But the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, responsible for moving the collection point, has been facing opposition from the local community to proposed new sites. It has proposed two new sites since 2003. The first is at the junction of Reclamation Street and Shek Lung Street, where the department now stores cleaning equipment. Some district councillors and principals of three nearby primary schools complained a collection point there would be a health risk. Wong Lai-ngor, principal of Tung Koon District Society Fong Shu Chuen School, said she had met the principals of Yau Ma Tei Catholic Primary School and CC Wanchai Church Kei To Primary School and they concluded that siting the dump there would harm their pupils' health and the schools' competitiveness in enrolling pupils in future. The second proposed site is the rest garden at the junction of Reclamation Street and Waterloo Road. The district council and local residents voted that site down, saying they would lose a recreation site. A man who lives opposite the rest garden said he did not know of the proposal but would oppose it. 'It will be bad for health. That's very bad for old people like us,' he said. A man who has sold canvas opposite the garden for more than 30 years said: 'Who would want to face a rubbish dump all the time? Not me.' Benny Yeung Tsz-hei, chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong council's food and environmental hygiene committee, said he had suggested different sites for the relocation to the government, but has had little response. Because of the opposition to the relocation sites, the completion date of phase two of the Xiqu activity centre will be delayed by at least two years, from 2015 to 2017. A department official said the new garbage collection point would be enclosed, have advanced technology for stopping smells and would be designed so as not to be intrusive. 'We started the groundwork for the project in 2003 but have faced strong opposition,' he said. 'Then we proposed the second location in 2009 but again it was not accepted by the district council. We decided not to drag on these two sites. The official said a two-year delay was based on the time needed to search for other possible sites. 'It will take another two years for all kinds of feasibility studies,' he said. 'The Architectural Services Department has to study if a site is suitable for the collection point, the Transport Department needs to assess the traffic flow there, while the Drainage Services Department has to check if the sewage facilities can support the new collection point... All this takes one to two years to do. If a new site requires rezoning, the process to go through the Town Planning Board may take another year.' It was becoming more difficult to site unpopular facilities, he said. 'This is an era of democracy, if we can't get support from the district councils, the chance to get the funding from Legco is slim. The community has to bear the overall cost, like the delay of the Xiqu centre.' Anywhere but here Project and location Relocate Shanghai Street Refuse Collection Point to make way for Yau Ma Tei Xiqu activity centre extension The objection District councillors and three nearby primary schools say it would affect students' health and the schools' competitiveness in enrolment Consequences Two-year delay to activity centre work Project and location A toilet for the disabled at entrance of the Wing Fong Street Market in Kwai Tsing The objection Residents say it would create a smell and attract wheelchair users causing inconvenience. Opposition remains despite design modifications and enhanced cleaning efforts Consequences Due for completion in 2007, the toilet has been dropped to avoid further delay to the market improvement project Project and location Conversion of an aqua privy at Shek Lau Po, Lantau Island to a flushing toilet The objection Village representatives demand demolition of the toilet as residents already have their own Consequences Work should have started in February and been completed by March next year. The result is no flushing toilets for hikers and tourists Project and location Conversion of an aqua privy at San Wai Tsuen, Pui O to a flushing toilet The objection Residents split over whether to keep or demolish it Consequences Project withdrawn Project and location Conversion of an aqua privy at Ha Ling Pei, Lantau Island to a flushing toilet The objection Two villages split over whether to keep or demolish it Consequences Project withdrawn