***********************************************************

Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (October 29) :

Question

I have learnt that the marine polluting waste collected by the Tsing Yi Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (TYCWTC), if treated with the oil-water separation process and mixed with other oil products, can produce recycled fuel oil. Moreover, the Government requires that recycled fuel oil should be used only as fuel for ocean-going vessels and not for any use on land. The authorities also require that all activities relating to the supply of recycled fuel oil to ocean-going vessels should only take place in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective quantities of the marine polluting waste collected by TYCWTC and the recycled fuel oil produced therefrom in each of the past three years;

(b) as marine polluting waste can produce recycled fuel oil by applying the above treatment process, of the reasons for incinerating such waste in the past;

(c) of the types and mixing ratios of the oil products added;

(d) of the reasons for not promoting extensively the fact that ocean-going vessels may benefit from the use of recycled fuel oil;

(e) whether it knows if the recycled fuel oil has any impact on the power system of ocean-going vessels; and

(f) how it ensures that recycled fuel oil will be used as fuel for ocean-going vessels only and will not be shipped out of Hong Kong and used for purposes which are not in accordance with the requirements laid down by the Hong Kong authorities?

Reply

Madam President,

(a) In the past three years, the quantities of marine polluting waste (Marpol waste) collected by the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) at Tsing Yi were as follows:

	2000       23,500 tonnes


	2001       37,300 tonnes


	2002       27,500 tonnes

	2000        7,760 tonnes


	2001       11,130 tonnes 


	2002        8,400 tonnes 

(c) The oil arising from oil water separation must be able to meet certain quality specifications before it can be mixed with Bunker C Fuel at a ratio of 9 to 1 by volume to form recycled fuel oil. The amount of Bunker C Fuel must constitute not less than 10 per cent of the volume of the recycled fuel oil.

(d) The contract with the operator of the CWTC allows the operator to arrange the production and sale of recycled products that are derived from the treatment of chemical waste. The recycled fuel oil is produced and sold by the CWTC operator under this arrangement. It would not be appropriate for the Government to market or promote the products produced by a private company.

(e) Neither EPD nor the CWTC has received any adverse reports or complaints from the shipping industry in this regard.

(f) The trading of recycled fuel oil is governed through licensing under the Waste Disposal Ordinance. The licence stipulates that recycled fuel oil is restricted for use as fuel by ocean-going vessels only and its trading must be carried out within Hong Kong. The CWTC operator is required to submit monthly transaction records (including the quantities and names of the user vessels) to the Environmental Protection Department. The Department would closely monitor these transactions.

End/Wednesday, October 29, 2003

NNNN