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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, exchanged views with local communities in Islands District this evening (December 13) on the implementation of "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022" and the development of integrated waste management facilities (IWMFs) during a residents meeting for Islands District organised by the Cheung Chau Rural Committee and relevant sectors.
The residents meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, Mr Yung Chi-ming, at the open area outside the Cheung Chau Rural Committee with about 130 residents and members of local communities in the district participating. Also attending were Deputy Director of Environmental Protection Mr Howard Chan and Assistant Director of Environmental Protection Mr Elvis Au.
During the meeting, Mr Wong briefed participants on the blueprint, which was unveiled by the Government in May this year. He stressed that Hong Kong's per capita waste disposal rate is way higher than rates in other advanced cities in Asia. However, the waste-related end-of-pipe infrastructure is incomplete and the three landfills will be full in two to six years. Therefore, Hong Kong must put in place the comprehensive waste management strategy and action plan mapped out in the blueprint in a timely manner, he said.
He pointed out that the Government has adopted a three-pronged approach in tackling the waste challenges. Firstly, the formulation of waste policies and legislation to encourage all sectors in society to reduce waste at source; secondly, the launch of territory-wide waste reduction campaigns, such as the Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign, to promote the reduction of food waste as well as other types of waste; and thirdly, the allocation of resources to enhance waste-related infrastructure, including waste-to-energy IWMFs.
Mr Wong gave a brief introduction on the design and technology of the first phase of the proposed IWMF at Shek Kwu Chau during the meeting. The facility would conduct end-of-pipe waste treatment effectively through modern incineration, which in turn would reduce the pressure on landfills and turn waste into energy. Its overall planning and design would also fit in with the surrounding environment.
Mr Wong said the residents meeting helped to build communication and exchanges between the Government and local communities on waste management, and enabled members of society to learn more about waste-to-energy facilities. He expressed his aspiration that different sectors in society would work together to face the waste challenges and support the relevant proposals for enhancing the environmental infrastructure in Hong Kong and achieving the targets set out in the blueprint.
Ends/Friday, December 13, 2013
Issued at HKT 21:49
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