XN000022-1995-02-22 — Page 48

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Compatibility of Stage I and II projects of SSDS

Following is a question by Rev the Hon Fung Chi-wood and a reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Tony Eason, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In its submission to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council requesting an injection of $6.8 billion into the Sewage Services Trading Fund, the Government has given assurance that Stage I of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme (SSDS) will be compatible with the Scheme's Stage II projects of any design. However, the preliminary report on the SSDS submitted to the LegCo Panel on Environmental Affairs by the three independent experts commissioned by the Government indicates that the proposed Stage II oceanic outfall plan for the SSDS, which has all along been advocated by the Government, is not feasible. In view of this, will the government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Why the Government has recommended the SSDS to this Council and the public before the Government has examined fully the feasibility of the primary treatment and oceanic outfall plan proposed by the consultants commissioned by the Government;

whether the query by the three experts on the proposed primary treatment and oceanic outfall is an indication that there are problems with the consultants' recommendations; why the Government has accepted the consultants' recommendations without first examining their feasibility; and why the Government has not reviewed the consultants' recommendations earlier and has delayed it until recently to commission other experts to conduct the review;

which part of the Stage I projects will be incompatible with the nine options for Stage II; what remedial measures will the Government take; and

why the Government has assured the Finance Committee that the Stage I projects will be compatible with the Stage II projects of any design; and whether the Government has given incorrect information to this Council?