Cage crackdown: Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Lam says a "zero tolerance" approach will be adopted in removing on-street used clothes collection cages.

All on-street used clothes collection cages will be removed in a crackdown starting mid-July while a community participation scheme will be launched to help people donate used clothes, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Carrie Lam says.

At a press conference today, Mrs Lam pointed out on-street cages have aroused district councils' concern and led to a large number of complaints as the cages adversely affect Hong Kong's cityscape and cause obstruction and inconvenience.

At present, either the Lands Department or the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department removes used clothes collection cages illegally placed on streets, in accordance with the Land (Miscellaneous Provision) Ordinance and the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance. However, cage owners are now given notice before enforcement action is taken.

"The limitation of these two pieces of legislation makes enforcement action ineffective as owners of the cages can easily satisfy the legal requirement of the removal notice by moving the cages to a nearby location," Mrs Lam said.

42% of cages confiscated

In the 12 months ending March this year, the Lands Department issued 3,494 removal notices, with around 42% cages confiscated after the notification period. The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department received 370 complaints during the same period, but only 13% warranted action while 75% were referred to the Lands Department.

She also noted the Lands Department's designated site scheme has failed to stamp out illegal practices and tends to cause confusion. About half the district councils do not support the scheme.

The problem of used clothes' cages placed illegally on streets is most serious in six districts, including Central & Western, Eastern, Southern, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong and Kwai Tsing.

Environmental concerns grow

To better respond to people's aspirations for a cleaner and tidier environment and to tackle the problem, Mrs Lam said a crackdown will be conducted from mid-July to remove used clothes collection cages on streets and officers will adopt a "zero tolerance" approach.

Under the Summary Offences Ordinance, it is an offence for anyone to put anything that causes or may cause obstruction or inconvenience to people or vehicles in public places without lawful authority. Owners of those items will be prosecuted.

When asked why the crackdown cannot be conducted earlier, Mrs Lam explained there is the need to tie in with the discontinuation of the designated site scheme. The arrangement will also give a reasonable period for owners to voluntarily remove their illegally placed cages.

She urged the owners to remove their cages voluntarily before enforcement action commences. For cages not placed on pavements and unlikely to cause obstruction or inconvenience to the public, the Lands Department will carry out enforcement based on the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance.

People who want to report illegal used clothes collection cages can contact their respective district offices. For details, click here.

Community participation needed

Turning to the community participation scheme, Mrs Lam said it will be launched in partnership with the district councils and relevant non-governmental organisations.

The move aims to support recycling and waste reduction initiatives. It will also help non-profit organisations, especially smaller ones, to collect used clothes.

District officers have so far identified 140 off-street spots for setting up used clothes recycling "banks". The Government has been prepared to pay for the construction of the first 100 recycling "banks", at about $3,000 each, to be managed by non-profit organisations, Mrs Lam added.