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A livestock farm owner, who was prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for illegal discharge of livestock waste, was convicted and fined $10,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 5).
An EPD spokesman said that during an inspection of a pig farm at Lin Fa Tei in Yuen Long in August last year, EPD officers found that liquid livestock waste was illegally discharged to a nearby stream without proper treatment, thus causing pollution to the environment and violating the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations.
According to the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations, liquid livestock waste generated by livestock farms must be treated properly to meet the statutory standards before being discharged in order to protect the environment. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and a daily fine of $5,000 for a continuing offence.
The spokesman said that the EPD has already stepped up surprise inspections at the livestock farms in the New Territories to combat the pollution from the discharge of untreated livestock waste to watercourses. The Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will also carry out inspections at the livestock farms to ensure that their operations comply with the licensing conditions. In addition, the EPD and the AFCD have organised seminars to enhance the use of green technology and environmental awareness in the trade.
More information about the control of livestock waste is available on the EPD's website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/laws_regulations/enforcement/lwis.html.
Ends/Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:51
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