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LCQ5: Landfill extension
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     Following is a question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):

Question :

     The Government withdrew the funding proposal for extending the Southeast New Territories Landfill on June 26 this year, and the Finance Committee of this Council passed motions at its meeting held on July 12 this year to adjourn the discussions of the funding proposals for extending the other two landfills.  The Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) had subsequently undertaken to visit the districts affected by the landfills to communicate with the residents, so as to understand their concerns, and she indicated that the Government would strive to re-submit the relevant funding proposals in the first quarter of next year.  On the other hand, it has been reported that in August this year, the authorities were alleged to have carried out soil excavation works in the proposed extension area of the West New Territories Landfill, but the Environmental Protection Department clarified that the authorities had not carried out any works relating to the extension of the landfill ahead of approval.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the number of meetings held respectively by CS and the Secretary for the Environment with the residents affected by the landfills since July 12 this year, as well as the dates and details of these meetings; whether they will, from now on, meet the affected residents again before the authorities re-submit the relevant funding proposals; if they will, of the expected number of meetings and the details;

(b) when the authorities granted approval for carrying out the aforesaid soil excavation works at the West New Territories Landfill; whether they had consulted the public before granting the approval; if they had, of the details; of the commencement and projected completion dates of the soil excavation works, and whether the authorities will construct the infrastructure required for landfill extension in the Borrow Area; of the planned land use of the land in the Borrow Area; whether public consultation on such land use has been conducted; if so, of the details; and

(c) of the details and expenditure of the specific measures implemented by the authorities to achieve waste reduction at source in the past five years; apart from the public consultation on the charging for solid waste which is currently underway, whether the authorities will, in the next three years, conduct another public consultation on the treatment of municipal solid waste and strengthening waste reduction at source; if they will, of the estimated expenditure involved and the details; whether the authorities will undertake not to submit funding proposals for landfill extension plans before the community has reached a consensus on waste reduction at source?

Reply:

President,

     Our reply to the question raised by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki is as follows:

(a) In response to residents' request, since July 12 this year, the Chief Secretary for Administration (CS) and I have met, on several occasions, with the Chairmen of District Councils and the representatives of residents affected by the landfill extension so as to better understand residents' concerns.  These meetings include:

(i) On August 8 this year, the CS and I went to Ha Pak Nai Village in Yuen Long and Lung Kwu Tan Village in Tuen Mun and met with the representatives of villagers, to listen to their views on the operation of the existing West New Territories (WENT) Landfill and its extension and to inspect the landfill operation.  

(ii) On September 6 this year, at the invitation of the Chairman of Sai Kung District Council, I met and exchanged views with Sai Kung District Councillors.  I briefed them on the waste management strategy of Hong Kong in the coming ten years, listened to their views on waste management and understood the local requests and concerns.

     In addition, my colleagues and I have also met, on several occasions, with the Chairmen and members of the District Councils concerned as well as the representatives of rural committees and villagers.  We listened to their views and discussed improvement proposals and future planning.  The Government is consolidating the views received so as to take appropriate follow-up action before re-submitting the extension proposals of the three landfills to the Legislative Council in the first quarter of next year.  

(b) Under the contract awarded in 1993, the "borrow area" of the WENT Landfill is located within the contractual boundary of the existing landfill.  The landfill contractor can carry out site formation, excavation and temporary storage of soil within the borrow area according to the actual operational needs.  However, no construction of infrastructure nor landfill activities will be carried out.  As the landfill has been operational for many years, there is less and less space available for use.  To meet the operational needs, in early 2012 the contractor began to temporarily store received inert construction material (including soil and rock pieces) in the borrow area as permitted under the contract, for use in the construction of temporary roads, capping in the landfill, etc. in the future.  Under the contractual arrangement, when the existing WENT Landfill is saturated, the contractor must restore the borrow area to its original state before handing it over to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).  When the funding for WENT Landfill Extension project is approved in the future, the site concerned will also be included in the Extension.

(c) The Government has drawn up a comprehensive strategy for waste reduction.  The current Government unveiled "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022" in May 2013 to set out comprehensive strategies and waste reduction targets.  The key points include a progressive implementation of various mandatory producer responsibility schemes (PRS) and proactive preparation to introduce municipal solid waste (MSW) charging in Hong Kong.  In this connection, we have conducted public consultations on a number of waste management initiatives, which include introducing a PRS on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) (2010), extending the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags (PSBs) to cover all local retailers (2011), as well as introducing MSW charging to facilitate waste reduction (2012) and a PRS on glass beverage bottles (2013).

     Currently, the Bill on the extension of the Environmental Levy Scheme on PSBs is being scrutinised by the Legislative Council.  We also plan to submit the legislative proposal on the PRS on WEEE and to seek funding for the necessary treatment facilities within this legislative year.  As for the PRS on glass beverage bottles, we will soon report the outcome of the consultation exercise to the Legislative Council with recommendations on the way forward.  In parallel, at the invitation of the Government, the Sustainable Development Council launched the second phase of the public engagement process on MSW charging in September this year.  The process is to explore the details of charging and arrive at some reasonable and practicable options for quantity-based charging.

     As for the resources put in for waste reduction, apart from source separation of waste and recycling promoted through the EPD, the Government also actively supports non-profit making organisations in educational activities and encourages recycling in the community through the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF).  Over the past five years, the EPD spent $14 million (2008/09), $16 million (2009/10), $27 million (2010/11), $28 million (2011/12) and $30 million (2012/13) respectively on these areas of work, and the ECF granted $3 million (2008/09), $65 million(2009/10), $68 million (2010/11), $86 million (2011/12) and $53 million (2012/13) respectively to non-profit making organisations for the promotion of waste reduction and recycling as well as education activities.  Since an injection of $5 billion into the ECF in mid 2013, we have planned to put in over $0.2 billion to subsidise environmental protection projects by non-government organisations in the financial year 2013-14.  As waste reduction is our key area of work this year, a greater proportion of fund ($0.1 billion) will be earmarked to support waste- related projects.

     In addition, since May this year, we have launched the "Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign" to disseminate messages on conserving food, reducing food waste and encouraging recycling of resources.  Besides, in order to boost the "reduction first" waste management strategy, we plan to set up community green stations in various districts throughout Hong Kong to promote environmental education and support recycling.

     Looking ahead, the ENB will continue to implement the various measures set out in the Blueprint and launch public consultation on different projects as and when necessary.  By then we will earmark the necessary resources for such efforts as before.

Ends/Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:32

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