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Following is the transcript (English part) of the Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam's briefing to the media after the Legco's Environmental Affairs panel today (October 17).

Reporter: (Question on the Director of Environmental Protection's decision not to approve the EIA report for Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and not to issue an Environmental Permit for the project):

Mrs Yam : I am not sure I agree with your observation that there will be a great deal of opposition to the decision of the Director of Environmental Protection on the EIA report submitted by KCRC. First of all, the Director, before making his decision, has fully taken into account all the submission that he has received and the general comment on the EIA report, including the advice of the Advisory Council on the Environment. Furthermore, on the base of his experience and on the base of his professional judgement, he has discharged his duties fully under the EIA ordinance. I am of course in full support of his decision. It is not an indication that he is opposed to KCRC's Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. It is not an indication that he has completely ignored the need for improving the existing cross-boundary transport arrangements. His decision is on the acceptability or otherwise, of the EIA report on currently proposed alignment and his decision is that taking into account all the factors listed in the ordinance, he can't accept the EIA report.

Reporter: (Question on food labelling system):

Mrs Yam: As I have indicated to the Health Services Panel earlier this morning, we have taken account of public views and comment on the need for a labelling system for genetically-modified food. And we are working for arrangements whereby we can implement a labelling system.

Mrs Yam: Of course, in the process, we have to make sure that whatever we propose would be enforceable, because it is pointless to have a labelling system unless it can be enforced and unless it has the full confidence of the community. And in the meantime, we will continue with our efforts to improve public knowledge and understanding of genetically-modified food.

Reporter: (Question on Clean HK Campaign):

Mrs Yam: I mention that towards the end of the year we will formally launch a Clean Hong Kong Campaign. Although education and public involvement is going to be a very important element, the essential ingredient and one that will determine the success or otherwise of the Clean Hong Kong Campaign is how thoroughly we can clean up hygiene blackspots and maintain the improvement. In this connection, we have secured resources to of some $15 million for the enforcement effort. In addition, we have $6 million set aside for public education and involvement. At the same time, as part of the Government initiative to create jobs and so on, we have made a bid for over 1,000 jobs to clean up blackspots during the next two years. Having said that, I hasten to clarify that this initiative to launch a thorough cleaning programme for the territory has been on my agenda since the beginning of this year and it is not a tool that we use to create jobs, but if we can create jobs in the process so much the better.

(Please also refer to the Chinese transcript for remarks made in Chinese.)

End/Tuesday October 17, 2000

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