Posted on 05/26/2003 3:57:35 AM PDT by kattracks
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Spitters and litter bugs beware: the Hong Kong government is about to make the familiar habit of cleansing one's airways and tossing of rubbish very expensive.The government, aiming to prevent more outbreaks of the deadly SARS virus and bird flu, is launching a sweeping clean-up campaign to give the city's image a much-needed polish.
"Some of the measures will be seen as very draconian," a government source, who did not want to be identified, said on Monday.
The price of spitting or littering? HK$1,200 (94 pounds) a time. Those who cannot afford to pay may have to perform community service.
Landlords, often notorious for being reluctant to pay for maintenance, are being targeted as well.
Building owners and restaurateurs will be asked to renovate their premises to comply with stricter hygiene and safety standards, the source said.
"Many old buildings have illegal structures and faulty drainpipes...which cause hygiene problems. Many smaller eateries don't want to spend money on toilets. If you walk through these places, you will know the situation is awful," he said.
The measures are expected to be announced over the next two weeks.
Some people infected with SARS in Hong Kong were believed to have been exposed to the virus because of faults in sewage pipes in their apartment block. The government has come under growing pressure to prevent a repeat of the incident.
More than 260 people have died of SARS in Hong Kong and more than 1,700 have been infected. The epidemic, which originated in China late last year and spread to Hong Kong in March, focused attention on Hong Kong's hygiene standards.
Separately, the Ming Pao newspaper on Monday quoted unidentified sources as saying that the rearing and import of live poultry may also be banned in the city.
Bird flu jumped the species barrier and killed six people in Hong Kong in 1997, and another man this year.
The government expects any move to curtail the live poultry trade in Hong Kong to be contentious. Chinese people are passionate about eating fresh chicken and the city abounds with markets stocked with live poultry
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.