Lo Wing-lok
One may chuckle at the very existence of a Toilet Association, but the organization takes its mandate seriously. It reviews the usability, design and safety of commodes on a regular basis. An infectious disease specialist and chairperson of the Toilet Association, Lo Wing-lok, gives Yannie Chan the lowdown on local lavatories.
HK Magazine: What does the Toilet Association do?
Lo Wing-lok: It was founded in 2005 by a group of professionals in various fields, such as engineering, design and health. We share a burning concern for toilets after attending an international conference organized by the World Toilet Organization. Our goal is to promote a comfortable and healthy toilet environment.
HK: What is so special about toilets?
LW: During the SARS epidemic, I looked into how it spread so quickly. The discovery that SARS spread through toilets in Amoy Gardens demonstrated that bad toilet hygiene can be fatal. When I was asked to join the Toilet Association, I agreed without hesitation.
HK: How do people react when they learn about the
Toilet Association?
LW: They laugh really hard. And I laugh with them, too! But toilets are very important to us. So I explain and convince people that [toilets] are in fact a serious matter.
HK: What are the criteria for a good toilet?
LW: We assess the quality of a toilet by [using the acronym] “CASH.” It refers to comfort, accessibility, safety and hygiene. Accessibility and hygiene are the most important and there are quite a lot of things to look into in each category. The flushing system is crucial to hygiene. A foot pedal helps minimize contact with germs, but a safety problem lingers—people like the elderly have trouble standing on one foot and can injure themselves.
HK: The association rated Hong Kong’s best and worst toilets. Can you tell us more about that?
LW: We held a city-wide review of toilets to find both the best toilets and those that need urgent improvement. Right after the results were published, the government tried to resolve the problems within a short time. The Repulse Bay beach public toilet was ranked the best by the public.
HK: Which toilets would you recommend?
LW: The Lantau Link Viewing Platform’s public toilet is beautiful, with a great choice of materials. It is truly a five-star toilet. There is a nice dressing area for girls, [there are] plants, and relaxing music plays in the background. The ventilation is also excellent, so it smells nice and germs are not trapped inside. The Fong Ma Po public toilet in the “Wishing Tree” neighborhood is designed like a local villa and integrates perfectly [with the environment]. The placement of washing basins outside the bathroom is also more sanitary.