FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1993
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GOVERNOR OPENS ISLAND EAST REFUSE TRANSFER STATION
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(FRIDAY)
THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT'S ISLAND EAST REFUSE TRANSFER STATION (IETS)
THE FIRST REFUSE TRANSFER STATION ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: "THE $400 MILLION STATION REPRESENTS THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING ITS LONG-TERM WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY IN HONG KONG."
HE SAID UNDER THIS STRATEGY, A NETWORK OF TRANSFER STATIONS WOULD BE BUILT IN URBAN AREAS то RECEIVE REFUSE COLLECTED BY THE URBAN SERVICES AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
THE WASTE WOULD BE CONTAINERISED IN THESE STATIONS AND THEN TRANSPORTED IN BULK TO THE LANDFILLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MANNER.
THE IETS IS THE SECOND TRANSFER STATION COMMISSIONED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS EASTERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
ON
THE
UNLIKE THE FIRST STATION AT KOWLOON BAY, THE IETS TRANSPORTS THE CONTAINERISED WASTE BY SEA INSTEAD OF BY ROAD. TWO PURPOSE-BUILT CONTAINER VESSELS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BULK TRANSPORTATION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THIS TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENT IS BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY MORE ACCEPTABLE AND ALSO MORE ECONOMICAL THAN A ROAD-BASED TRANSFER SYSTEM.
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"THE COMMISSIONING OF THE IETS WILL ENABLE THE CLOSURE OF THE KENNEDY TOWN INCINERATION PLANT IN MARCH THIS YEAR WHICH HAS LONG BEEN CONSIDERED A MAJOR SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION IN THE WESTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND," HE ADDED.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SWIRE GROUP IN HONG KONG, MR PETER SUTCH, AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SWIRE BFI WASTE SERVICES LTD, MR LIONEL KRIEGER.
IETS CONTRACTORS
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DR REED SAID THE IETS WAS ANOTHER MILESTONE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN.
IN THE
HE SAID THE STATION WOULD BE OPERATED TO VERY ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS WHEREBY ALL AIR AND EFFLUENT EMISSIONS THE FACILITY WOULD BE PROPERLY TREATED BEFORE DISCHARGE.
HIGH FROM
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THE IETS PROJECT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED UNDER A DESIGN, BUILD OPERATE CONTRACT AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE FACILITY OVER A 15-YEAR OPERATING PERIOD.
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