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Following is a question by the Hon Tam Yiu-chung and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, in the Legislative Council today (May 25):
Question:
The authorities have planned to set aside a site at Siu Lang Shui (SLS) in Tuen Mun for leasing under short-term tenancy to operators of roadside cargo compartments (commonly known as skips) for storing idling skips (skip storage site), with a view to reducing the number of such skips placed on roads or in public places. Quite a number of Tuen Mun residents have relayed to me that as the external transport of SLS currently relies on Lung Fu Road and Wong Chu Road for connecting to Route 9, the provision of a skip storage site at SLS will overload Wong Chu Road, which is already heavily congested at present. They have also pointed out that in recent years the spate of environmental problems arising from refuse collection vehicles and dump trucks commuting to and from the West New Territories Landfill and the fill bank have already caused great nuisance to residents of the areas from Lung Mun Oasis to Lung Kwu Tan. As such, the provision of the skip storage site at SLS will only aggravate the problems concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the authorities have conducted a comprehensive and in-depth assessment on the impact of the provision of the skip storage site on the traffic flows along Lung Fu Road and Wong Chu Road as well as the environmental hygiene in the vicinity, and conducted consultation with the residents of the neighbouring areas; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) given that at SLS there is a butterfly reserve which has been listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, whether the Environmental Protection Department has studied the impact of the provision of the skip storage site on the ecology of SLS and the survival of butterflies there; and
(3) whether the authorities have considered other options as an alternative to the provision of the skip storage site at SLS; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Acting President,
The Government attaches great importance in addressing the impact on the surrounding road traffic and local communities caused by operation of construction waste cargo compartments (commonly known as skips). In February 2014, the Government set up a Joint Working Group on Management of Roadside Skips (the JWG) led by the Environment Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department. The JWG, which comprises the Environment Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Transport and Housing Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Lands Department, the Transport Department (TD), the Highways Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Home Affairs Department, has actively explored ways to enhance and coordinate the work of relevant Government Bureaux and Departments in managing skips.
A review conducted by the JWG found that most of the idling skips under complaint were placed on roadside for a prolonged duration by skip operators simply for convenience. Feedback from the trade indicated that this was due to a lack of storage sites for placing idling skips in local districts. In light of the findings, the JWG decided to adopt a two-pronged approach in the short term to tackle the problems caused by placement of skips on the roadside and in public places. The two measures include:
(i) identifying suitable sites for leasing as short-term tenancy (STT) sites to skip operators for storing idling skips, with a view to reducing the number of such skips placed on roads or in public places; and
(ii) enhancing enforcement efficiency to enable relevant Government Departments to expedite removal of roadside skips that cause obstruction, inconvenience or danger.
Regarding the identification of suitable sites to be made available to the trade for storing skips, the JWG proposed that a site within the Tseung Kwan O Area 137 Fill Bank in Sai Kung and a deserted section of Siu Lang Shui Road in western Tuen Mun be made available to skip operators on STTs for storing idling skips. As for the proposed site at Siu Lang Shui (SLS), I would like to reply as follows:
(1) The proposed site, which is distant from residential area and can accommodate about 100 skips, is located at a deserted section at the end of Siu Lang Shui Road. Vehicles carrying skips will enter and leave the proposed site via Lung Mun Road, Lung Fu Road and Wong Chu Road. The TD has assessed that the number and frequency of hook-lift trucks entering and leaving the proposed site will only account for a small portion of the daily total traffic volume of the road sections concerned, and thus will not have significant traffic implication on the local road network. The JWG will also specify clearly in the STT terms and conditions that other activities such as waste sorting and recycling are not allowed at the proposed site, and that to avoid affecting the surrounding environment, there should be environmental hygiene management at the proposed site in compliance with all relevant environmental laws.
The JWG consulted the Environment, Hygiene and District Development Committee of the Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) on March 18, 2016 regarding the proposed site at SLS. The Committee noted that whilst it was necessary to identify sites for storing idling skips, the Government should also consider in parallel a comprehensive plan for the management of roadside skips. The JWG is preparing the operation details and management plan for the STT making reference to the suggestions of the Committee. The JWG will continue to maintain close liaison with the TMDC to ensure that the concerns of local communities will be duly addressed.
(2) A butterfly reserve which is inside a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is located on a northern hillside of the Siu Lang Shui Restored Landfill. There is a distance of about 600 meters between the butterfly reserve and the entrance of the proposed site, and the two sites are separated by hillsides and tree plantation. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department considers that if suitable environmental mitigation and site management measures are implemented, it would further reduce disturbance to the minimum, and therefore the proposed site will not adversely affect the overwintering of butterflies (mainly of the species of Crows and Tigers (family Danaidae)) at this SSSI. For better site management, anti-nuisance measures including noise control and lighting arrangement during night time will be included in the terms and conditions of the STT.
(3) As the proposed site in SLS is close to the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill, skip operators would be able to place idling skips at this storage site directly after delivering waste to the public fill bank or WENT Landfill, thereby reducing the impact of nuisance caused to local communities and road traffic. The proposal will not have significant traffic implication on the local road network, and will not affect the overwintering of butterflies at the SSSI. Therefore, we have no plan to consider an alternative proposal at this stage. The Government will continue to maintain close liaison with the TMDC to ensure that the concerns of local communities will be duly addressed.
Thank you, Acting President.
Ends/Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 15:27
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