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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, on waste management after attending a photo exhibition in the Legislative Council (LegCo) today (March 26):
Reporter: What did you learn on this trip (to Europe) that you can use to overcome the opposition (to an incinerator) in Hong Kong?
Secretary for the Environment: The trip was very useful in a way that the LegCo members could go there, see and believe in particular the waste-to-energy facilities. They could understand the perspectives from the governments, the professionals and also the NGOs and public. Also, they could visit the facilities in person. They could see, smell and witness that they are up to very high standards, in terms of health, smell and other concerned environmental issues. This gave very high confidence to the LegCo members after their visit. I think, not only the Government, but also the LegCo members can help to communicate with the public about modern incinerators, so that we can make up a very good plan for Hong Kong in terms of waste management.
Reporter: But the incinerator plan also has to be passed with the landfill expansions. How are you going to overcome all opposition to all those things together?
Secretary for the Environment: In fact, when we visited the European countries and cities, while they are having a long history of waste-to-energy facilities, they do keep a significant amount of landfill space within their territories. Because for whatever countries, whatever waste reduction and recycling and waste-to-energy facilities, they still need land in the long term to landfill certain inert wastes including construction wastes. So, Hong Kong similarly has to keep both landfills and incineration, but it is a matter of proportion and also a matter of timing.
Reporter: Do you think the public is aware of the urgent need for these things to be going through?
Secretary for the Environment: I think we can communicate better with the public. We keep reiterating that we do have urgency, and we are facing a crisis in terms of our end-of-pipe treatment. We are only leaving about five years' landfill space to handle our residue wastes. I think the media can help to broadcast it.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:15
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