Toilet Association Vice President Lo Wing-lok

HK Magazine: Do you think Hong Kong has overlooked the importance of public toilets?
Lo Wing-lok: Hong Kong is becoming more aware of [their] importance. The evidence is shown in the investment made by the government. They invested over 100 million dollars last year to replace the older aqua-privies, a.k.a. “the pit," with the more accepted WC (water closet or flush toilet).

HK: What do public toilets say about a place?
LWL: It gives a first impression to people – how affluent and civilized a community is.

HK: The old style vs. the latest style?
LWL: The old style, or squatting toilet, could be more hygienic because it only involves your shoes and not sitting on the toilet seat. It’s also healthier as your body is in the natural position to expel bodily wastes. Our anatomy is more adapted to this position. But then there are those who cannot squat. [Meanwhile] the sitting toilet needs more maintenance and cleaning.

HK: Where do Hong Kong’s public toilets rank on the world scale?
LWL: Some of them are the best in the world. But in the faraway corners of the countryside they are definitely not. To make us the best, I hope more investment and interest will continue.

HK: How do you decide where to build public toilets?
LWL: There is a formula – how big the population is [in proportion to] how many facilities are needed. There are certain guidelines the government must follow but we are trying to revise them as they were based on the assumption that the users are mainly men. Thus, female toilets are underprovided. Women spend 1.4 times longer in the toilet than men. The most ideal ratio is two female toilets to every male toilet [but currently the ratio] is 1.25 female toilets to one male.

HK: Tell us about the oldest toilet in town.
LWL: I’m not sure, but there is a very, very old toilet at the [underground] corner of Wellington St. and Queen’s Rd. Central. It’s definitely one of the oldest as it was originally built in a business district and it’s for males only.