****************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-kin and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, at the Legislative Council meeting today (June 30):
Question:
The existing Berth Licence Agreement for the Kwun Tong Public Cargo Working Area (PCWA) will expire in July 2011. To complement the development of the Kai Tak promenade, the Government has planned to decommission PCWA, but it has not yet reached consensus with the 12 affected paper recyclers on a new operation site. I have learnt that if those 12 paper recyclers are forced to wind up their business, the livelihood of tens of thousands of workers will be adversely affected. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the average daily quantity of waste paper disposed of at Kwun Tong PCWA at present, and its percentage in the total quantity of waste paper disposed of in Hong Kong; whether the Government has assessed the average increase in the daily amount of waste paper to be delivered to the landfill areas for disposal upon the cessation of business of the aforesaid 12 paper recyclers; whether the authorities will consider reserving a piece of land at a nearby place or at the Gin Drinkers Bay PCWA for the paper recyclers to continue their operation, as well as improving the quality of management and the facilities with a view to developing the place into a waste paper recycling centre; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether the authorities have any comprehensive long-term policy and target for the recycling trade at present, and whether they have any plan to offer assistance to the local recycling trade; if so, of the details, including the targets and measures for recycling waste paper; if not, whether they will consider formulating such policies, targets and plans; and
(c) whether the authorities will consider making reference to the proposal for building an incinerator in Tuen Mun and, in relocating the aforesaid 12 paper recyclers, provide comprehensive enhancement to their new operation site, so that the residents will accept the operation of recyclers in the district; if they will, of the details, if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) Waste recovery and recycling play a pivotal role in solving Hong Kong's waste management problem. In 2009, a total of over 1 million tonnes of waste paper were recovered from municipal solid waste. About 60% of them (roughly 650,000 tonnes) were exported to neighbouring regions for recycling via Kwun Tong Public Cargo Working Area (PCWA), which contributes heavily to the local waste paper recycling industry. At present 12 berths with an aggregate length of 320 metres at the Kwun Tong PCWA are used for waste paper export. We hope the affected exporters would move to other PCWAs to continue operation.
We plan to decommission Kwun Tong PCWA in mid-2011 to make way for the development of Kwun Tong Promenade Stage 2. Since 2008, the Government has encouraged the affected berth users, including waste paper recyclers, to relocate on a voluntary basis to vacant berths in other PCWAs to continue their operation. There are sufficient vacant berths, both in terms of berth number and berth length, in other PCWAs for the affected waste paper recyclers and other berth users to continue their operation.
(b) To support the development of the waste recycling industry, the Government sets out a series of long-term initiatives in the Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014). They include:
- Programmes on source separation of waste to encourage the public to separate waste at source so as to increase the amount of local recyclables for collection;
- Encouraging the development of recycling technology to upgrade the standard of local recycling industry through the Innovation and Technology Fund, the Environment and Conservation Fund and various funds for small and medium enterprises;
- Promoting the green procurement policy among government departments to boost the demand for green products as an outlet for recycled/green products and materials;
- Implementing producer responsibility schemes to encourage the public and the industry to engage more actively in waste recovery;
- Identifying more suitable sites for lease to the recycling industry under short-term tenancy through bidding; and
- Developing the EcoPark to provide long-term land for the recycling industry at affordable rent so as to facilitate and encourage investment by the industry. The target is to transform gradually the traditional simple mode of recycling operation into high value-added processes that comply with environmental and other statutory requirements.
The above policy initiatives aim at creating a more favourable operating environment for local recycling industry. The Government will continue to implement these initiatives to ensure a steady supply of source materials for various recycling trades including waste paper recyclers, and to explore more outlets for recyclables.
(c) As for the development and management of waste treatment facilities, the Environment Bureau incorporates appropriate enhancement measures into their design and monitors the environment vigorously to ensure that their operation will not create adverse environmental impact on the surrounding area. In managing the PCWAs, the Marine Department ensures that the operation will meet the mandatory requirements. It is necessary to decommission Kwun Tong PCWA to make way for the development of Kai Tak and its neighbouring communities.
Ends/Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:38
NNNN
