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More control on waste import and export
The Government is to introduce a permit system to control the import and export of hazardous and other wastes in line with the international requirements on the control of transboundary movement of waste.
Under the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill gazetted today (Friday), potential importers and exporters are required to apply to the Environmental Protection Department for a permit for the import or export of hazardous wastes for either disposal or recycling activities.
Non-hazardous wastes imported or exported for disposal will also be subject to the same permit control.
The penalty for importing or exporting waste without a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Department will be a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first offence and $500,000 and two years' imprisonment for subsequent offences.
A Government spokesman said most of Hong Kong's existing waste traders are dealing with non-hazardous wastes to be used in recycling or recovery operations. They will not be affected by the new provisions.
The Waste Disposal Ordinance currently provides only for the control over the import of waste into Hong Kong for disposal.
The spokesman said: "Hong Kong's waste trade will be seriously affected if we failed to meet the higher international standard of minimising the environmental and health risks caused by the generation of hazardous and other wastes as well as their transboundary movement."
End/Friday, December 23, 1994
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