Hong Kong Celebrates World Toilet Day with Award-Winning Public Toilets in Tsuen Wan District

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants

​A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that today (November 19) is World Toilet Day, and 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.

The Hoi Hing Road Public Toilet in Tsuen Wan District has won the gold award, while the Sunny Bay Public Toilet in the same district has won the silver award.

"In recent years, the FEHD has been enhancing the facilities, management and hygiene of public toilets (PTs), taking a multifaceted approach to provide a better user experience for both the public and tourists. We are delighted to learn that the PTs of the FEHD have consistently received top honours, winning best toilet awards in consecutive years. This recognition is a testament to the department's hard work and dedication."

The FEHD currently manages some 810 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 September this year, full refurbishment or facelifting for about 370 PTs has been rolled out, with approximately 160 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 300 PTs across the territory by the end of 2028.

The FEHD employs technologies to enhance the service of PTs. For instance, sensors are installed in suitable PTs to monitor usage rates, environmental parameters, and the operating status of electrical and mechanical equipment in real time. Additionally, the department is utilising novel air purification technologies to eliminate odours and improve air quality. The FEHD is also considering the use of nano ozone bubble technology in flushing water to enhance the effectiveness of deodorisation and disinfection. Furthermore, public toilet cleansing services are gradually being separated from the street cleansing services contracts and procured independently under dedicated contracts with stricter requirements for contractors' staff vocational training to elevate their service standards.

"Frontline toilet attendants play a crucial role in ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of PTs. To acknowledge their contributions, the FEHD recently conducted an election to recognise outstanding toilet attendants. After a thorough assessment, six outstanding toilet attendants were selected for commendation. Three male toilet attendants serving at the Hoi Hing Road Public Toilet in Tsuen Wan District, the Kwai Hing Station Bus Terminus Public Toilet in Kwai Tsing District and the Pound Lane Public Toilet and Bathhouse in Central and Western District respectively, and three female toilet attendants serving at the Science Museum Road Public Toilet in Yau Tsim District, the Rumsey Street Multi-Storey Carpark Public Toilet in Central and Western District and the Tai Hang Road Public Toilet in Wan Chai District respectively were selected", the spokesman said.

In response to the observation of the Hong Kong Toilet Association, the FEHD has enhanced the cleansing service and management of the public toilet on the ground floor of Tsuen Wan Market, and has included it in the refurbishment programme to improve its overall condition.

The spokesman added, "The FEHD will continue to enhance the facilities and service quality of PTs through innovative ideas." The department appealed to the public to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of public facilities and help ensure that PTs are well cared for.

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

FEHD wins consecutive best public toilet awards and selects outstanding toilet attendants Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

C for T meets taxi trade and reiterates determination to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025

The Commissioner for Transport, Ms Angela Lee, met with some 20 taxi trade representatives and Legislative Council Member concerned this afternoon (May 15), and exchanged views on their concerns about illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities, regulating online car hailing platforms and improving taxi service quality, reiterating the Government's determination to continuously combat illegal hire car services in accordance with the law and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025. Representatives of the Transport and Logistics Bureau also attended.

Trade representatives comprising various stakeholders, including trade associations, taxi dealers, taxi fleet operators and vehicle owners, attended the meeting. Ms Lee said, "Combating illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities, regulating online car hailing platforms and improving taxi service are the common goals of both the Government and the trade. We had candid exchanges at the meeting and we understand the taxi trade's concern regarding online car hailing platforms and illegal hire car activities. The Government is determined to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities with a view to protecting the safety and interests of the public."

The Transport Department (TD) sternly pointed out that any online car hailing platform operator providing carriage of passengers for reward services must comply with the laws and regulations. The Hong Kong Police Force have been continuously combating illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward across the territory during the past several months. Appropriate enforcement actions will be taken immediately for cases with sufficient evidence and enforcement actions are ongoing. Meanwhile, the Government is proactively studying legislative amendments, so that vehicles involved in the offence of illegal carriage of passengers for hire or reward can be impounded even if the driver's identity cannot be confirmed, heightening the deterrent effect against illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities.

In addition, the TD has stepped up publicity on the penalties of illegal carriage of passengers for reward. For the first conviction, the maximum fine is $10,000 with six months of imprisonment while the vehicle licence concerned will be suspended and the vehicle will be impounded for six months. Drivers are urged not to defy the law. Further, passengers using illegal hire car services may be at risk, as the vehicle's third party insurance may become invalid in case of a traffic accident.

At the meeting, the taxi trade also made suggestions on regulating online car hailing platforms and their vehicles and drivers. Ms Lee said that the Government is actively conducting a study on the overall demand and supply of personalised point-to-point transport services. She stressed that the service sustainability will be taken into account, meeting passengers' needs for point-to-point services while safeguarding passenger safety and upholding service quality. The Government will holistically consider the report to be submitted by the Working Group for Enhancing Personalised Point-to-Point Transport Services under the Transport Advisory Committee, the views collected including the taxi trade's views and relevant data in formulating legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms and licensing requirements for their vehicles and drivers within 2025, aiming to promote the platforms' operations in a regulated manner.

Ms Lee was pleased to note that the taxi trade representatives shared the need to act in concert to improve taxi service quality, including pressing ahead for the taxi fleets' completion of gearing-up work for the commissioning of their services by end-July 2025, thereby improving passengers' riding experiences and enhancing the trade's competitiveness. The TD will continue to maintain close communication with the taxi trade to achieve the common goal of bringing mutual benefits to the transport sector and commuters at large.

C for T meets taxi trade and reiterates determination to continuously combat illegal carriage of passengers for reward activities and formulate legislative proposals on regulation of online car hailing platforms within 2025 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases