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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at a media session on the judgment in respect of the judicial review on Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase I today (July 26):
Secretary for the Environment: We welcome the court's decision today to dismiss the judicial review on Phase I of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities. The court agreed that the environmental impact assessment process and the report are objective, transparent and prescriptive. We have unveiled our Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources for Hong Kong. It comprises various components, from waste reduction at source, support recycling, modern waste-to-energy facility, and landfills. All these are an integrated part of our waste management in Hong Kong. We need all of them at the same time. The new policies emphasise a lot on waste reduction at source, including the forthcoming public engagement on quantity-based waste charging. Also, to support better food waste management, we have the Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign and also the new Organic Waste Treatment Facility. We would also support the recycling industry, but at the same time, we need to go back to the Legislative Council to apply for funding for the waste-to-energy facility and also landfill extensions. We would like to meet social needs so that we can realise the vision and targets as announced in our Blueprint.
Reporter: ...... the cost of the incinerator is rising because of the judicial review. The resident in Cheung Chau is planning to take a challenge and appeal. What do you have to say to him?
Secretary for the Environment: I think we have to realise that Hong Kong needs this infrastructure as soon as possible so we can realise the vision and targets as set out in the Blueprint. We would try our endeavours to communicate with the local people and stakeholders so that they can understand the concern. And we also understand that the concerned cost for all these kinds of infrastructure would be rising over time due to various reasons. We would like to demonstrate our endeavours to convey the message to them so that we can have consensus for all these.
Reporter: How much would that price be rising?
Secretary for the Environment: I don't have the figure on hand. We can supplement later.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, July 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:11
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