Update | Legco to vote on landfills next year: Carrie Lam
Carrie Lam visits affected villages to canvass support and hear views of disgruntled residents
The government hoped to reapply for funding to expand the city's three landfills early next year, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said yesterday after visiting two villages close to the Tuen Mun facility.
The proposals to extend the Tuen Mun, Tseung Kwan O and Ta Kwu Ling landfills would be tabled in the Legislative Council together. The government tried to seek funding for the expansion from Legco last month, but withdrew the Tseung Kwan O plan amid strong opposition. Lawmakers decided to defer scrutiny of the other two sites.
Lam said this was the first of a series of visits to places affected by the landfills to hear residents' concerns.
She and Secretary for Environment Wong Kam-sing talked to representatives from Ha Pak Nai village in Yuen Long and Lung Kwu Tan village in Tuen Mun.
Lam said the visit was to fulfil her earlier pledge that she and Wong would visit the three districts most affected by the proposed extension. "We will continue to do these visits and also to engage the stakeholders and to talk with the three district councils," she said.
However, the visitors were greeted by dozens of protesters when they arrived at the villages and residents said they would oppose any expansion.
