A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (November 18) that the department is delighted to have won consecutive gold and silver awards this year in the annual Hong Kong's Best Public Toilet Award organised by the Hong Kong Toilet Association.
Having won the gold award, the Lan Kwai Fong Public Toilet in Central and Western District is equipped with an air-conditioning system, facilities such as automatic sensor water taps and soap dispensers, and a touchless flush system. Toilet attendants provide round-the-clock service during weekends and public holidays. The Kam Tin Shi Public Toilet in Yuen Long District has won the silver award. With a simple and unpretentious appearance as well as a bright and hygienic interior design, the toilet is equipped with facilities including the three-in-one Cabinet Wash Hand Basin (combining automatic sensor water tap, soap dispenser and hand dryer), and a touchless flush system.
"In recent years, the FEHD has been enhancing the facilities, management and hygiene of public toilets (PTs), taking a multi-pronged approach and introducing new technologies to provide a better user experience for the public. We are delighted to learn that the PTs of the FEHD have won best toilet awards in consecutive years. This recognition is a testament to the department's hard work and dedication."
The FEHD has earlier noted the ageing of facilities in Sai Ying Pun Market toilets and Kowloon City Road Public Toilet, and has already made facelifting and refurbishment plans. Among which, the toilet on the ground floor of Sai Ying Pun Market is scheduled to re-open within this month upon the completion of refurbishment works, while the works for the rest will commence in the coming months. Before the facelifting and refurbishment works are completed, the FEHD will enhance cleansing and collaborate with relevant departments to expedite the repair of damaged facilities.
The spokesman said, "The FEHD will continue to enhance the hygiene and management of PTs under its purview, and improve the facilities and service quality of PTs through innovative ideas. We appeal to the public to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of public facilities and help ensure that PTs are well cared for."
The FEHD currently manages over 800 PTs. Since 2019-20, the FEHD and Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) have been proactively forging ahead with the Enhanced Public Toilet Refurbishment Programme. As of this September, full refurbishment or facelifting for about 480 PTs has been rolled out, with approximately 190 of these projects already completed. By planning ahead, streamlining or compressing preliminary work flows and adopting new construction methods and technologies, the FEHD and the ArchSD aim to commence full refurbishment or facelifting works for the remaining some 200 PTs across the territory by the end of 2028.
The FEHD employs technologies to enhance the service of PTs, including installing sensors in 15 PTs to monitor usage rates and environmental parameters in real time. When odour concentration is detected to have reached an alarming level, the system will immediately notify the responsible staff through an SMS message to arrange cleansing. Additionally, novel air purification technologies are utilised to catalytically decompose pollutants and to eliminate odour at source. Ozone generators are also deployed in individual PTs to convert the oxygen in the air to ozone, and through nanobubble technology, effectively oxidise the bacteria and viruses in water, preventing the formation of biofilms on toilet surfaces and reducing odours generated from excreta.
The FEHD has installed wireless broadcasting systems in approximately 200 PTs located at tourist attractions or with high utilisation rates across the territory to promote the importance of toilet cleanliness and proper use of facilities. Furthermore, public toilet cleansing services are gradually being separated from the street cleansing service contracts and procured independently under dedicated contracts. Provisions requiring toilet attendants to have received relevant vocational training with recognised qualifications are included in the new public toilet management service contracts with a view to upgrading the service standards.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Photo source: reference image
