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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, on Lung Mei Beach and incandescent light bulbs after a launch ceremony for Energy Saving Charters today (June 5):
Reporter: Why is the Government insisting to ignore the marine life when there is a finding?
Secretary for the Environment: The overall concern is to strike a balance. We are talking about sustainable development, that is, to care about the environment and also to be concerned about the socio-economic needs in the whole society. In this case, as mentioned earlier, the environmental permit has reviewed the application in terms of the ecological value. It is our concern. When we had the supplemental survey, we found that in comparison with three other sites in Tolo Harbour, the ecological conditions remain similar as before when we were doing the environmental permit issuance. Also, under the current permit, the project proponent has to take care of all these wildlife concerns. In case they are going to have the project, they have to follow the environmental permit to protect the discovered wildlife. So, I think there is a balance to protect the wildlife and also to meet social needs. I think we are meeting the needs for the whole benefit of Hong Kong.
Reporter: (On incandescent light bulbs.)
Secretary for the Environment: Thank you for the question. I think the question is highly technical but I would like to respond in a few areas. Firstly, there are different researches in response to the question. Certainly there are different angles to see the problem. But from my technical colleagues' advice, the energy-efficient light bulbs actually can contribute to energy efficiency and are adopted by many overseas countries. In Hong Kong, this time we are adopting not a mandatory approach, but a kind of charter-based approach that provides options to the society. Based on the research available to us, while we understand the concerns, we think that there are overriding benefits that can be brought to the society as a whole. While for the disposal concern, in Hong Kong, we have an efficient system in place that can reduce the pollution that may be caused to the environment. In Hong Kong, the landfill system is pretty advanced so that it is not causing any leakage to the environment. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:44
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