Officials to defend Tseung Kwan O landfill clean-up
Environmental Protection Department says it is making real progress on Tseung Kwan O upgrades, but some say it is too soon to tell
Embattled environment officials fighting for landfill extensions will return to the Sai Kung District Council today to convince local politicians that their pledges to improve the operation of the Tseung Kwan O landfill are genuinely being implemented.
The report to the council is seen as one of the crucial steps for the officials to resubmit, within the first quarter this year, their funding applications for three landfill extensions, including the one concerning Tseung Kwan O that failed in July amid lawmakers' objections.
"We hope those living close to the landfill will understand we have stepped up efforts vigorously to minimise the impacts," an Environmental Protection Department spokesman said.
But there was no sign that lawmakers and residents' hostility to the extension plans had softened, after a forced withdrawal of a HK$27 million funding request for preparation works for landfill extensions on Friday.
Gary Fan Kwok-wai, a lawmaker and Sai Kung district councillor, said real improvements had yet to be seen and his opposition to extensions remained firm. "It is too early to say if these measures are effective. That's why I think officials should not come back for funding again so soon," he said.
According to the environment officials, funding applications are now open for rubbish trucks to retrofit their vehicles with covers and effluent tanks and no non-retrofitted trucks will be allowed into landfills in future.
