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Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (November 5):
Question:
It has been reported that as the National Day fireworks display originally scheduled for October 1 this year had been cancelled, some 24 000 pieces of fireworks valued at 6 million dollars in total had to be destroyed due to safety concerns. The fireworks were transported to Tai A Chau, south of Lantau Island, on the 10th of last month for destruction. The destruction operation lasted 11 hours, during which loud noise and large plumes of black smoke were generated. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) which government departments were involved in the destruction operation and of the relevant decisions made and tasks undertaken by them;
(2) of the various types of air pollutants emitted during the destruction operation and their respective quantities;
(3) of the legislation governing the destruction of fireworks, and whether the authorities have, before deciding on the site for destroying the fireworks, conducted environmental impact assessment studies on the sites concerned; if they have, of the details;
(4) whether the authorities have monitored, in the vicinity of Tai A Chau, (i) the concentration of air pollutants and noise levels during the destruction of fireworks, and (ii) the air quality and the impact caused to the ecological environment in the week following the destruction of fireworks; if they have, of the respective results; and
(5) of the quantity of fireworks destroyed in Hong Kong in the past five years and the locations involved?
Reply:
President,
On September 29, 2014, the Government decided to cancel the 2014 National Day Fireworks Display. My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) As in previous years, the National Day Fireworks Display Organising Committee (FDOC) provided assistance to the sponsor of the fireworks display in the operation and organisation of the National Day Fireworks Display.
Following an assessment by the sponsor's technical producer and the relevant government departments, it was decided that the fireworks should be disposed of by burning them at the remote location of Tai A Chau. The government departments involved in the disposal included the Mines Division of the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), the Marine Department (MD), the Police Marine Division and the Fire Services Department.
(2) The rules for applicants to sponsor fireworks displays specify that sponsors should not purchase or use fireworks containing harmful substances such as mercury, chromium, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesium and arsenic.
(3) The disposal of fireworks is regulated under the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295B). Vessels conveying and handling dangerous goods in Hong Kong waters are regulated under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance (Cap. 295) and its subsidiary legislation (mainly the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations (Cap. 295B) and the Dangerous Goods (Shipping) Regulations (Cap. 295C)). The MD is responsible for monitoring and other matters relating to the issue of permits for the carriage and handling of dangerous goods under the regulations.
As regards the disposal in question, MD issued the appropriate permits, namely the "Removal Permit for Explosives" (Regulation 4 of Cap. 295B) and the "Permit for Fireworks Display" (Regulation 59 of Cap. 295B) to compliant vessels to allow them to carry and handle fireworks. MD gave prior notification of the disposal operation to government departments concerned and to cross-boundary ferry operators, advising vessels to stay away from the areas concerned. In addition, MD officers conducted on-site marine traffic control during the disposal operation.
The fireworks disposal operation took place on Tai A Chau which is far away from residential areas. Since the disposal was carried out on a level close to the ground surface, the burnt residues were confined within the immediate vicinity of the site where the fireworks were destroyed. The departments concerned cleared up the site immediately after the disposal was completed.
(4) According to data collected at the Environmental Protection Department's Tung Chung air quality monitoring station, which is the closest station to Tai A Chau, no abnormalities in air pollutant concentration were recorded at the time of disposal or during the following week. Regular monitoring of the marine water quality nearby also showed no abnormal conditions.
(5) According to the CEDD, in the past five years its Mines Division has disposed of an average of about 4 700 kilograms of fireworks annually in the incinerator at the Kau Shat Wan Government Explosives Depot on Lantau Island.
Ends/Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:01
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