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Chicken farm owner in Tai Kong Po, Yuen Long, fined $40,000 for illegal discharge of livestock waste
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     A livestock farm owner who illegally discharged livestock waste was fined $40,000 by Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (January 10) for contravening the Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO).
 
     During enforcement action in June last year, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) officers found that a chicken farm at Tai Kong Po in Yuen Long illegally discharged livestock waste to a nearby river via a concealed pipe, seriously polluting the water quality of the Kam Tin River. The EPD successfully gathered evidence after investigation and initiated prosecution against the owner of the chicken farm for violating the WDO.
 
     An EPD spokesman said, "Improperly treated livestock waste contains high concentrations of excreta. Its discharge into rivers will lead to serious pollution, as well as the formation of scum that causes odour problems. The department has all along been taking stringent action against livestock farms that illegally discharge livestock waste, and will continue to conduct surprise inspections and prosecute offenders to protect the environment."
 
     The spokesman reminded the owners and staff members of livestock farms in the New Territories to properly dispose of livestock waste in accordance with the law and make good use of the free collection service for solid livestock waste provided by the EPD. The department will continue to closely collaborate with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to step up monitoring of the operation of livestock farms. The EPD will strictly enforce the law against livestock farms that contravene the WDO or relevant regulations. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

     More information about the livestock waste control scheme is available on the EPD's website at www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/laws_regulations/enforcement/lwis.html.
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 19:01
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