Parents have hit out at the government for allowing four schools to be built next to a crematorium after their children asked them why they could always smell meat being 'barbecued'.
Po Kong Village Road School Village, which has about 5,000 students, was opened in September opposite Diamond Hill Crematorium.
Lui Cheuk-kuen, principal of Po Leung Kuk Grandmont Primary School, said the smell from the crematorium was often strong, depending on wind direction.
The 'smell problem' reflected flaws in the planning of the school village, he said. 'Measures to improve the environment should have been introduced earlier. A crematorium should not be located in a densely-populated area next to schools.'
Parents have signed a petition organised by two Wong Tai Sin District Council members calling for urgent replacement of outdated cremators to clean up the air.
Wu Chi-wai, one of the councillors, said: 'The cremators were due to be changed in 2003 but that plan has been delayed. The Education Department (ED) should have pushed for an early replacement. Government departments often only act after complaints have been received from the public.'
Mr Lui said he might have to stop students with respiratory problems from venturing outside and even cancel sports activities.
This week a parent complained to a radio talk show that her two primary school sons were bothered by the smell of 'barbecuing' every day. Another parent, Lam Man-ho, whose son attends a primary school, said he would not send his second son to the complex.
'We did not know the crematorium was so close when we moved here,' he said. But like many other parents, he said he did not intend to remove his elder son from his school because it was difficult to secure a place for him at another school.
Chairman of the School Village Management Committee, Fung Yuk-ching, who is also head of Tsz Wan Shan Primary School, said the government should study the issue of land use more carefully and consider relocating the crematorium away from schools. 'Changing the cremators is only a short-term measure. What if the crematorium is in even heavier use when the population in the area rises further?'
Mr Lui shares similar doubts. 'There will still be smoke and smell since the facility is so close to the schools,' he said.
As an immediate measure, Ms Fung backs proposals from district councillors to urge the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, which runs the crematorium, to elevate its chimneys or install filters.
The ED has asked the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to carry out a study on air quality in the area following complaints from school principals.
Study results showed that the quality was within standards set by current regulations.
An ED spokesman said a feasibility study on the area conducted before the village had been built showed there was no environmental problem with the site.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is due to replace the six cremators with new models which will produce less emissions. But this is not scheduled for at least 18 months.
Chemicals could be added to emission points of the crematorium's chimneys to reduce the smell, the department said.
Principals have praised the idea of the school village, which provides a green environment and extensive open space in front of each school, but say they have to keep air-conditioning and ventilation systems running for long periods of time to reduce the smell in their classrooms.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51krrPAyJyjnmdkZX13gZJomqudnZbBsL7IrqRmmpGnr6av1J5krKWVoblutdGroK2ZpJrAbrzUqaClqw%3D%3D