Incorporated Owners of Ngai Hing Mansion in Mong Kok convicted for illegal sewage discharge
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that department staff found that the sewage of a commercial and residential building in Mong Kok kept running on the roadside in March last year. The EPD therefore requested the building's IO to rectify the problem. During a follow-up inspection last June, a dye-tracing test was conducted and it was found that sewage was discharged from a restaurant on the ground floor and residential flats of the building into the communal storm drain at the roadside. Based on the collected evidence, the EPD subsequently initiated prosecution against the IO, which is responsible for the public facilities of the building. During the prosecution, the IO arranged for a contractor to rectify the misconnection of foul sewers and the sewage of the building is now being discharged into a communal foul sewer.
The spokesman reminded all building owners, IOs and property management companies that the wastewater generated from building premises, including shops, residential flats and offices, should only be discharged into foul sewers. If misconnection of foul sewers is found, they should hire the services of qualified contractors to rectify the problem immediately to prevent pollution to the environment.
Under the WPCO, it is an offence for anyone to discharge wastewater into communal storm drains. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment. A maximum fine of $400,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions.
Ends/Thursday, March 15, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:28
Issued at HKT 16:28
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