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Following is a question by the Hon Wong Yung-kan and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (March 4):
Question:
It has been reported that in mid-February this year, a piping incident occurred at the Xiaping Solid Waste Landfill Site in Shenzhen, which caused large quantities of rubbish and silt to be discharged into the Buji River and subsequently into the Shenzhen River, thus threatening the ecological environment in the Deep Bay area. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) apart from setting up 10 observation points along the Shenzhen River and collecting water samples daily to monitor the water conditions, whether the Government has conducted investigations at places in Hong Kong which are likely to be affected by the incident, including the Mai Po Nature Reserve, to ascertain whether or not river-bed sediments and aquatic life have been contaminated; if it has, of the findings; if it has not, the justification for that;
(b) given that there are a number of oyster farms in the Deep Bay area, which is also a popular place for seafood trading, whether the Government has conducted sampling checks to ascertain the food safety of aquatic products there; if so, of the findings; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) given the very high ecological value of Mai Po area, whether the Government has discussed with the Shenzhen authorities how to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents, and whether it has formulated other contingency measures to prevent the ecological environment there from being ruined?
Reply:
President,
(a) On February 16, the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau (GEPB) notified the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong (EPD) that a piping incident at a landfill in Shenzhen had polluted Buji River. According to GEPB's report, the Shenzhen authorities took immediate action to control and manage the pollution. On the same day, EPD officers conducted site inspection and collected water samples from the Shenzhen River for testing. The EPD also liaised with other government departments concerned to assess the possible environmental impacts on Hong Kong and make monitoring arrangements. The EPD actively communicated with the GEPB for updates on the incident from the Mainland. Details of the monitoring work and results are as follows:
(i) The EPD has set up 10 observation points along the Shenzhen River and around Deep Bay jointly with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and the Government Laboratory, with two of them within the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site (Ramsar Site), a wetland of international importance, one near the Mai Po Nature Reserve and one near the oyster culture rafts in Deep Bay.
(ii) According to site monitoring data and test results of water samples, so far there has been no sign indicating that the incident has affected the water quality in upstream and downstream Shenzhen River near the estuary of Buji River, as well as that in the environs of Ramsar Site (including the Mai Po Nature Reserve). No rubbish or other pollutant in large quantity was found along the river or in the bay and the vicinity of the Mai Po Nature Reserve. No strange odour has been emitted from the river or the sea.
(iii) According to the AFCD's observations, no abnormal condition of water birds and benthic fauna in Inner Deep Bay was detected. Observations by the WWF Hong Kong on the Gei Wai's of Mai Po also revealed no abnormality. To date, our monitoring of the water quality and ecology has shown no significant impact of this incident on the ecology and aquatic life in Inner Deep Bay.
The EPD and AFCD will continue to monitor whether there is any change in the water quality and ecology. In the meantime, through the Baseline Ecological Monitoring Programme for Ramsar Site, the AFCD collects samples of benthic and aquatic biota as well as the bottom sediment for analysis. Under the EPD's marine water quality monitoring programme, samples of marine water and sediment are collected in Deep Bay for analysis. The data collected under these two on-going programmes will help us understand better whether the incident will have any long-term impact on the ecology of Inner Deep Bay and the Mai Po Nature Reserve. The Administration will also provide the WWF Hong Kong with the monitoring data for reference.
(b) Prior to this incident, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) had collected 41 and 58 oyster samples for testing of the heavy metal "cadmium" and pesticide respectively in 2008. Among the samples collected, one of them was found to contain the heavy metal "cadmium" at a level of 3.4ppm, which exceeded the limit as stipulated in the Food Adulteration (Metallic Contamination) Regulations (Cap 132V). Follow-up actions had been taken. The rest of the samples were found satisfactory. During the year, the CFS had also collected 372 and 333 raw oyster samples for bacteriological and virology testing (Norwalk-like viruses and hepatitis A virus) respectively. Five samples were found to contain Norovirus nucleic acid. Follow-up actions had been taken. The remaining samples were found satisfactory.
After the occurrence of the incident, the EPD had conducted site monitoring and water quality testing. There was no sign that the water quality of the Shenzhen River and Deep Bay had been affected. Hence, aquatic products in the area would not be affected. Nevertheless, precautionary measures had been taken by the AFCD. The fish farmers and fisheries organisations concerned had been immediately informed and the pond fish farmers had been advised not to use water extracted from the Shenzhen River for the time being. They were also asked to report any abnormalities to the authorities immediately. Besides, the AFCD had taken the initiative to inspect the fish farms and no abnormality was found. The CFS will, through its food surveillance programme, step up sample testing for food including aquatic products at import, wholesale and retail levels.
(c) The EPD has a mechanism in place to liaise with both the GEPB and Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) so as to share information on environmental issues of mutual concern. The parties immediately activated the mechanism following the piping incident at Xiaping Solid Waste Landfill Site in Shenzhen. The EPD has stayed in touch with the GEPB and SEPB so that we can take appropriate emergency and monitoring actions in Hong Kong. To further strengthen co-operation between both sides in dealing with environmental emergencies, the EPD will, based on its experience in handling this incident, have follow-up exchanges with the relevant authorities in Guangdong and Shenzhen. The aim is to minimise the impact of any similar incident.
In response to the incident, the Administration immediately adopted a series of water quality monitoring measures. The AFCD also informed the crop and pond fish farmers along the Shenzhen River as well as the relevant agricultural and fisheries bodies and the WWF Hong Kong as quickly as possible. The AFCD also advised them to avoid using the water in Shenzhen River for the time being and report any abnormalities to the authorities immediately.
In addition, to protect the lower reach of Shenzhen River (including the Ramsar Site and Mai Po Nature Reserve) from the impact of pollutants, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Drainage Services Department have, in collaboration with the Shenzhen River Regulation Office and other relevant departments, drawn up manpower and emergency arrangements. For example, screens and nets will be set up in the Shenzhen River to get rid of rubbish and pollutants when necessary. Chemicals are in stock to be applied to the polluted waters when necessary to enhance sedimentation of the suspended matters so that the settled sludge can be dredged for disposal later.
Ends/Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Issued at HKT 13:07
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