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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, on the water quality of Kong Yiu Channel at Ta Kwu Ling after attending the breakthrough ceremony for the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A sewage tunnel (North Point - Wan Chai section) today (November 8):
Reporter: Could you please explain why the figure, the level of pollution, is still not yet going downwards? Can you give a date when exactly you will carry out prosecution action against the contractor ...?
Secretary for the Environment: With respect to the timing of the prosecution regarding the leachate (leakage) incident that happened at the North East NT (New Territories) Landfill, as I said earlier, the period would be within six months of the incident. Regarding prosecution, our team is actively pursuing the investigation and would carry out the prosecution within the time frame. Regarding the level of pollutants, as I said earlier it is due to the residual pollutants accumulated in the surrounding areas. But the point is that it is not causing any unacceptable environmental and ecological damage because the concerned river is in fact a concrete nullah and that it is not causing any excessive environmental damage.
Reporter: Is it because of the dry season?
Secretary for the Environment: And to add, it is a kind of seasonal issue. Currently it is a dry season without much rainfall, so the residual effect would carry on for a certain period of time. But the point I would like to stress is that it is not causing excessive environmental and ecological impact.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, November 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:43
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