Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04 Reply Serial No.
CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
ETWB(E)049
Question Serial No.
Head : 44 Environmental Protection
Department
Subhead(No. & title): 0080
Programme : (1) Waste Facilities
Controlling Officer : Director of Environmental Protection
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question : The Controlling Officer indicated in his report that the number of enquiries handled in
2002 under the waste reduction and recycling hotline service was 36,403, which was more
than triple of 11,815 in 2001. And it was indicated that 10,950 enquiries would be
handled in 2003. Why was there a big jump of enquiries in 2002? What were they
mainly about? Despite the increasing number of enquiries in 2002, the Controlling
Officer indicated the number of enquiries to be handled in 2003 would drop drastically.
What are the reasons?
Asked by : Hon. Bernard CHAN
Reply : The overall high call volume in 2002 was due to surges of calls received after a public
announcement of new waste reduction initiatives in September 2001, together with
strengthened publicity of the hotline in early 2002 as well as launching of the mobile phone
battery recycling programme in April 2002. These special publicity events generated more
than 20,000 calls. Of the total number of calls handled by the hotline in 2002, about 50%
were requests for information on waste collectors/recyclers; about 10% were related to waste
recovery programmes; 5% were about waste separation bins and around 3% were requests for
technical advice on recycling.
Gototop
After the above publicity drives, the number of enquiries has gradually stabilized at around 30
calls per day at the end of 2002. Therefore, the projected call volume for 2003 is 10,950.
Signature
Name in block letters ROBERT J. S. LAW
Post Title Director of Environmental Protection
Date 19 March 2003