HK willing to share data on incinerator
Cheung Chi-fai – Updated on Feb 29, 2008 – SCMP
Hong Kong was willing to share information and exchanges about the possibility of locating a waste-to-energy incinerator in Tuen Mun following concerns over its impact raised by Shenzhen residents, the environment chief said yesterday.
The remark came at a meeting with Tuen Mun District Council at which officials failed to convince the local politicians to support the project.
They instead passed a motion rejecting moves to site the incinerator locally.
It was the first time senior environmental officials had consulted the politicians since two potential sites were announced last month for the 3,000-tonne capacity incinerator – at the ash lagoon in Tsang Tsui or at Shek Kwu Chau off Lantau.
This week, Shenzhen residents vowed to oppose the plan, fearing that emissions from the plant might affect their health.
Some councillors said numerous polluting factories had been built in Tuen Mun and were upset that their district now looked even worse environmentally than Shenzhen.
Yim Tin-sang said that just a few kilometres away the Shekou district was being given a facelift to turn it into a prosperous commercial-residential zone along their coastline.
“But look at us, we are trashing our beautiful coast with landfills and incinerators,” he said.
Chan Wan-sang asked whether Hong Kong would consult Shenzhen residents about the incinerator.
Anissa Wong Sean-yee, director of environmental protection, who attended the meeting, did not directly address the issue, but she stressed there was uncertainty on the site selection before an environmental assessment was carried out.