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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, after attending the Legislative Council Finance Committee meeting today (December 5):
Reporter: What do you feel about the approval of funding for the Tseung Kwan O (Southeast New Territories) landfill extension? And also, what do you feel about the possible filibustering that would still go on?
Secretary for the Environment: The filibustering process is delaying these essential (waste) infrastructure projects that are necessities for Hong Kong. While we have a comprehensive blueprint including waste reduction, food wise, support for clean recycling, but these infrastructure are a must for Hong Kong for our hygienic operation and also for daily necessity. The delay of these infrastructure projects would on one hand increase their costs and on the other hand would delay the waste-to-energy capacity in Hong Kong that would in turn increase the burden on our landfills. So we hope to get the support of the Legislative Councillors as soon as possible so that we can carry out the tendering process soon so as to minimise the costs and also to meet the need of Hong Kong.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, December 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:46
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