Thousands ready for cleanup
Saturday, April 19, 2003
scmp.com
ELAINE WU, PETER MICHAEL and CHEUNG CHI-FAI
Hundreds of thousands of people from senior officials to retailers and restaurant workers will roll up their sleeves and take part in an unprecedented city-wide cleanup campaign today, as Hong Kong battles to halt the spread of atypical pneumonia.
The concerted action, involving both the public and private sectors, will see the disinfection of housing estates, parks and commercial premises. Everyone in Hong Kong is being urged by the government to take part.
In another sign of the city's fightback, it was announced yesterday that a new taskforce, including environmental experts from the World Health Organisation, officials from relevant departments, and the police has been put into operation. It will carry out urgent investigations in areas where clusters of atypical pneumonia cases occur and draw up a response strategy
Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa, who will take part in the two-day cleaning campaign beginning today, acknowledged the devastating impact the virus has had on the city. "From any angle, the damage has been disastrous,'' he said.
Mr Tung admitted the government had been passive in its initial response to the outbreak, but added: "After we've gained the experience, we've been very proactive ... after six weeks of hard work, we're starting to get a handle on the virus, conditions, treatment, diagnosis and prevention.''
He stressed the importance of personal hygiene and cleanliness in public places in fighting the killer disease, which is believed to have spread from Guangdong to Hong Kong and around the world.
Mr Tung's comments came amid cautious suggestions that the outbreak in Hong Kong may be stabilising. The death toll rose by four yesterday, including three elderly victims and a previously healthy 42-year-old man. There have now been 69 deaths in Hong Kong. Thirty new cases were recorded, bringing the total number to 1,327. But 50 patients were discharged yesterday, bringing the number who have recovered to 322.
Director of Health Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, during a special briefing yesterday, said she was heartened by the latest trend.
"We are doing everything in our power to contain the spread of this disease," Dr Chan said.
"In the last week things seem to have settled down a bit. And certainly we would wish to see this trend continuing. We will continue to maintain our vigilance to do everything possible to protect the health of the people of Hong Kong as well as to fulfil our international responsibility."
During the cleaning campaign starting today, the government will disinfect public housing estates, parks and recreation areas.
Separately, retailers, restaurateurs, and private housing and commercial property management companies will have their own workers cleaning their premises.
This campaign complements Operation Unite, a private sector response, which has gathered 6,000 volunteers to clean and distribute hygienic kits to the elderly and those with prolonged illnesses.
More than 10,000 volunteers will take part in this weekend's cleanup with thousands of government cleaning workers. "Our goal is to have 6.8 million people participate in this campaign," said Patrick Ho Chi-ping, Secretary for Home Affairs. "Everyone should be doing their part."
Mr Ho is one of the government officials who will be cleaning today. He will tackle back lanes near Tsuen Wan Market, Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung will help clean a street in North Point and Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen a restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong.
Cleanliness has been seen as particularly important following the release of a government report on Thursday on the alarming spread of the disease at the Amoy Gardens housing estate in Ngau Tau Kok, where more than 300 people have been infected. There were two new cases from the estate yesterday. The report concluded problems with the sewerage system were a key factor.
In response to the report findings, the Housing Department has already set up a taskforce to follow up complaints against sewerage system leakage in public housing estates during the Easter holidays. Deputy Director of Housing Lau Kai-hung yesterday said some of the estates might have similar sewerage system designs as Amoy Gardens. |
