****************************
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, on waste management facilities, after attending a public event today (September 4):
Reporter: What will be the Government's next step now as the Court of Appeal has ruled the judicial review of the Shek Kwu Chau incinerator?
Secretary for the Environment: We have to respect the judgement delivered by the court, but at the same time, before the summer, we proposed the waste-related infrastructure to the LegCo for approval about the funding application. We are waiting for the resumption of the Finance Committee of the LegCo after the summer. At the same time, as I have said earlier, we have a comprehensive blueprint to manage our waste, from waste reduction at source, Food Wise (campaign), and support for recycling. As we all know that based on international practice, while we are having all the waste reduction and recycling initiatives, we still need infrastructure including waste-to-energy facilities and landfills to handle our waste in a hygienic way. So I think we have a comprehensive plan. We are not biased towards any infrastructure proposal, but we have a balanced way to handle our waste. So, we would like the public to understand that we do have a comprehensive blueprint to manage our waste.
Reporter: Considering the widening ... between the Government and the political opposition due to political reform, do you think you have the conditions to pass these controversial plans...?
Secretary for the Environment: I think we have to somehow admit that the political situation in Hong Kong currently is pretty tense, but I would like to say that there are various issues that affect the public, I mean everyone in general, for instance, about waste management infrastructures. Those are the basic need of our city. I don't think it's really a wise way, that due to political debate we have to compromise about these waste-related infrastructures, otherwise our public hygiene will be affected. So the message should be heard by the public and also by the politicians, so that we can make a better Hong Kong while we are debating the other political issues.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, September 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:19
NNNN