The contractor of the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Project in North District, who discharged untreated muddy water generated from tunnel boring works into the nearby river channel, violating the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) licence conditions, was fined $8,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 25) for contravening the Water Pollution Control (General) Regulations.

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that upon receiving a report on the discharge of a large amount of muddy water from the construction site in December 2016, the EPD investigated and found that due to malfunctioning of the site's wastewater treatment facilities, untreated muddy water was discharged into the nearby river channel, violating the WPCO licence conditions. The EPD subsequently initiated prosecution against the contractor involved. After the incident, the contractor had pumped away the mud discharged into the river channel and, upon the EPD's request, taken measures to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident and strengthened the monitoring of the affected river channel.

     The spokesman reminded project contractors to install appropriate wastewater treatment facilities and maintain their proper operation to ensure that the discharged water complies with the license requirements of the WPCO. Under the WPCO and the Regulations, any person who violates the law or relevant licence conditions commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment.

Ends/Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:45

NNNN