**********************************
Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session given by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, after a meeting today (July 20) with green groups on the excavation works at a site in Sai Wan, Sai Kung:
Reporter: Mr Yau, have they already chopped down some trees? Even though they have not applied for change of land use zoning, something has already been done to the site?
Secretary for the Environment: In the preliminary checking including my personal visit there, I have seen that there are some excavation works done but there is not much tree felling when we compare the (site with) aerial photos taken some years ago. That site might have been an abandoned field. I have not seen very clear evidence of vegetation destruction. But having said that, the excavation or the minor works has infringed certain Government land on which our departments are taking action, erecting signs and clearly demonstrating that there should be no trespassing. And also we have been serving advice or warning to the landowner that they must respect the boundary of government land as well as the procedures required for erecting any building or any future development. So I think the departments are taking all the actions that the law provides for.
Reporter: Mr Yau, would there be any prosecution regarding the trespassing?
Secretary for the Environment: I think I would leave it to the professional departments.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:53
NNNN