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"The feasibility of siting the IWTS inside a cavern was first explored by the Civil Engineering Department in 1990. The arrangement will result in environmental benefits as well as economic advantage through releasing other pieces of valuable land in the urban area for alternative development."
As with other waste management projects, the IWTS will be developed under a "design, build and operate" contract arrangement. The contractor will be responsible for operating the station for 15 years.
Mr Stokoe said the IWTS would be built to very high environmental standards and be capable of processing 1,000 tonnes of refuse a day. Wastewater treatment plant and odour removal equipment will be installed inside the facility to ensure that no nuisance will be caused to nearby residents.
In addition to handling waste collected by the Urban Services Department, the IWTS will also handle privately collected waste on the Hong Kong Island.
All the wastes received at the station will be transferred in sealed containers by vessels to the West New Territories Landfill for disposal.
"IWTS is the second transfer facility serving the Hong Kong Island and will commence operation in early 1997. Together with the Island East Transfer Station, these facilities will provide a joint handling capacity of over 2,200 tonnes per day, which is sufficient to accommodate all waste arisings from Hong Kong Island," Mr Stokoe said.
"Just as equally important as the provision of waste facilities, we are developing strategy to further reduce and recycle waste generated in Hong Kong. We have commissioned a study on this subject and it is expected to be completed in August this year," he added.
End/Thursday, July 6, 1995
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