Hong Kong's best public toilet award goes to Lan Kwai Fong lavatory

The Lan Kwai Fong Public Toilet has won the gold award in Hong Kong's Best Public Toilet awards this year, a recognition of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD)'s efforts in introducing new technologies to provide a better user experience.

In a statement on Tuesday (Nov 18), a spokesperson noted that the toilet is equipped with an air-conditioning system, automatic sensor water taps, soap dispensers, and a touchless flush system. 

Toilet attendants also provide round-the-clock service during weekends and public holidays.

The Kam Tin Shi Public Toilet in Yuen Long District, which won the silver award, features a simple and unpretentious appearance as well as a bright and hygienic interior design.

The toilet is equipped with facilities including a three-in-one cabinet wash hand basin, combining an automatic sensor water tap, soap dispenser, and hand dryer, and a touchless flush system.

The FEHD has been enhancing the facilities, management, and hygiene of public toilets through a multi-pronged approach, while employing technologies to enhance the service. 

These measures include installing sensors in 15 public toilets to monitor usage and environmental conditions in real time. The system alerts staff to arrange cleansing via SMS when odour levels become critical. 

Novel air purification technologies are utilised to catalytically decompose pollutants and eliminate odour at the source.

Ozone generators are also deployed in individual toilets to convert the oxygen in the air to ozone, preventing the formation of biofilms on toilet surfaces and reducing odours generated from excreta.

Furthermore, the FEHD has previously noted the ageing of facilities in the Sai Ying Pun Market toilets and Kowloon City Road Public Toilet and has already made facelifting and refurbishment plans.

Among these, the toilet on the ground floor of Sai Ying Pun Market is scheduled to re-open within this month upon the completion of refurbishment works, while the works for the rest will commence in the coming months.

The FEHD currently manages over 800 public toilets and has rolled out full refurbishment or facelifts for about 480 toilets, with approximately 190 of these projects already completed.

The authorities aim to commence full refurbishment or facelift works for the remaining approximately 200 toilets by the end of 2028.

Additionally, public toilet cleansing services are gradually being separated from the street cleansing service contracts and procured independently under dedicated contracts.