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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (March 21) reminded members of the public that unauthorised depositing of construction waste and landfilling activities are illegal and offenders will be liable to a fine and imprisonment.
An EPD spokesman said, "The reminder comes after a man was fined and sentenced to imprisonment earlier for unauthorised depositing of construction waste and landfilling. This is the first case in which a jail sentence has been imposed for such activities and the penalty may serve as a deterrent to others."
In August last year, the EPD received a complaint about suspected illegal depositing of construction waste and landfilling activities in a fish pond at Tam Kon Chau Road, Yuen Long. EPD officers inspected the site immediately and discovered illegal landfilling by the fish pond operator with the use of construction waste as filling material. The filled area was about 1 000 square metres.
After investigations and collection of evidence, the EPD initiated prosecution against the fish pond operator for illegal depositing of waste. The defendant pleaded guilty at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on March 18 and he was fined $25,000 and sentenced to one month's imprisonment suspended for 12 months.
The spokesman stressed that, according to Section 16A of the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Cap 354), an offender who illegally deposits waste will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.
The spokesman pointed out that illegal depositing of construction waste and landfilling will cause environmental hygiene problems, drainage or watercourse blockage, and other pollution problems. He called on members of the public to protect the environment and not to commit such illegal activities. The EPD will continue to take appropriate enforcement action against illegal activities pursuant to relevant legislation.
Ends/Friday, March 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:08
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