1992 — Page 66

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 66 of 126

113

are all day long emitting waste gases. They are not only creating air pollution but also the so-called acid rain. The life span of human beings can be shortened by this acid rain and health is being jeopardized by these gases. Here I would like to say that I support the Government in constructing modern incinerators to dispose of waste rather than relying solely on landfill. That is very strange? In 1986, the Chief Engineer from the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department told me that there was no way to identify sites for landfills. Hong Kong is small with a great deal of waste. How could we use landfill sites? But of course, after a lot of urging from members of the public and after the advice of the Urban Council on the harm caused by incinerators, the policy of the Government has changed. But then the Government did not embark on identifying environment-friendly methods to treat the wastes. In addition to landfills, the Government only offers us Hobson's choice. We must choose either one or the other, and therefore members of the public misunderstood that we are creating pollution. Our duty is to collect the wastes, have them transferred to the collection points; our duty stops at that. How are we to do away with old incinerators and replace them with cost-effective, environment-friendly incinerators? I think the Government should feel very shameful about this. It should conduct an active review on this situation.

About two months ago, together with two members of the Regional Council, I met the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department, and we talked about incinerators. Amongst others, we discussed the treatment of clinical wastes and special incinerators for them. Just now, the Chairman said that for high-tech modern incinerators, they can treat clinical wastes at the same time for hospitals. I think the Government should try to do this immediately. As far as I know, the EPD has suggested these incinerators, but because of some financial reasons, the Government has postponed the proposal. Recently, the EPD again has put up the proposal. I hope that through our debate today, the Central Government would come up with some sound measures or two prompt measures to treat the waste, including the education of the public to recycle or reduce wastes. As regards incinerators, we have just heard that they can treat wastes effectively in an environmentally friendly manner. I must emphasise 'environmentally friendly'. With the existing two incinerators, I hope that the Government can close them down as soon as possible. In fact, they should have been closed down 15 years ago. I really do not understand why they are still operating. Mr. Chairman, in order to protect public health in Hong Kong, to create a better environment in Hong Kong, to enjoy fresh air, and for every citizen to have a clean lung, I support the motion.

MR. SAN STEPHEN H. C. WONG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When my turn comes, you can almost be sure that all arguments have been exhausted. I can only repeat points if I am to make my speech. That being so, I support the Council urging the Government to review the policy of disposal of household refuse and to introduce environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways to deal with refuse by means of incineration. So I can only say that I support the motion. I do not want to repeat the points made by my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Page 66 of 126 113 are all day long emitting waste gases. They are not only creating air pollution but also the so-called acid rain. The life span of human beings can be shortened by this acid rain and health is being jeopardized by these gases. Here I would like to say that I support the Government in constructing modern incinerators to dispose of waste rather than relying solely on landfill. That is very strange? In 1986, the Chief Engineer from the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department told me that there was no way to identify sites for landfills. Hong Kong is small with a great deal of waste. How could we use landfill sites? But of course, after a lot of urging from members of the public and after the advice of the Urban Council on the harm caused by incinerators, the policy of the Government has changed. But then the Government did not embark on identifying environment-friendly methods to treat the wastes. In addition to landfills, the Government only offers us Hobson's choice. We must choose either one or the other, and therefore members of the public misunderstood that we are creating pollution. Our duty is to collect the wastes, have them transferred to the collection points; our duty stops at that. How are we to do away with old incinerators and replace them with cost-effective, environment-friendly incinerators? I think the Government should feel very shameful about this. It should conduct an active review on this situation. About two months ago, together with two members of the Regional Council, I met the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Department, and we talked about incinerators. Amongst others, we discussed the treatment of clinical wastes and special incinerators for them. Just now, the Chairman said that for high-tech modern incinerators, they can treat clinical wastes at the same time for hospitals. I think the Government should try to do this immediately. As far as I know, the EPD has suggested these incinerators, but because of some financial reasons, the Government has postponed the proposal. Recently, the EPD again has put up the proposal. I hope that through our debate today, the Central Government would come up with some sound measures or two prompt measures to treat the waste, including the education of the public to recycle or reduce wastes. As regards incinerators, we have just heard that they can treat wastes effectively in an environmentally friendly manner. I must emphasise 'environmentally friendly'. With the existing two incinerators, I hope that the Government can close them down as soon as possible. In fact, they should have been closed down 15 years ago. I really do not understand why they are still operating. Mr. Chairman, in order to protect public health in Hong Kong, to create a better environment in Hong Kong, to enjoy fresh air, and for every citizen to have a clean lung, I support the motion. MR. SAN STEPHEN H. C. WONG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When my turn comes, you can almost be sure that all arguments have been exhausted. I can only repeat points if I am to make my speech. That being so, I support the Council urging the Government to review the policy of disposal of household refuse and to introduce environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways to deal with refuse by means of incineration. So I can only say that I support the motion. I do not want to repeat the points made by my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Page 66 of 126

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Page 66 of 126 113 are all day long emitting waste gases. They are not only creating air pollution but also the so called acid rain. The life span of human beings can be shortened by this acid rain and health is being jeopardized by these gases. Here I would like to say that I support the Government to constructing modern incinerators to dispose of waste rather than relying solely on landfill. That is very strange? In 1986, the Chief Engineer from the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department told me that there was no way to identify sites for landfills. Hong Kong is small with a great deal of waste. How could we use landfills sites? But of course after a lot of urge from members of the public and after the advice of Urban Council on the harm by incinerators, the policy of the Government has changed. But then the Government did not embark on identifying environment-friendly methods to treat the wastes. In addition to landfills, the Government only offers us Hobson's choice. We must choose either one or the other and therefore members of the public misunderstood that we are creating pollution. Our duty is to collect the wastes, have them transferred to the collection points, our duty stops at that. How are we to do away with old incinerators and replace them with cost effective environment-friendly incinerators? I think the Government should feel very shameful about this. It should conduct an active review on this situation. About two months ago, together with two members of the Regional Council, I met the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection and we talked about incinerators. Amongst others, we discussed the treatment of clinical wastes and special incinerators for them. Just now the Chairman said that for high-tech modern incinerators they can treat clinical wastes at the same time for hospitals. I think the Government should try to do this immediately. As far as I know the EPD has suggested these incinerators but because of some financial reasons the Government has postponed the proposal. Recently the EPD again has put up the proposal. I hope that through our debate today, the Central Government would come up with some sound measures or two prompt measures to treat the waste including the education of the public to recycle or reduce wastes. As regards incinerators we have just heard that they can treat wastes effectively in an environmentally friendly manner. I must emphasise 'environmentally friendly'. With the existing two incinerators, I hope that the Government can close them down as soon as possible. In fact, they should have been closed down 15 years ago. I really do not understand why they are still operating. Mr. Chairman, in order to protect public health in Hong Kong, to create a better environment in Hong Kong, to enjoy fresh air and every citizen can have a clean lung, I support the motion. MR. SAN STEPHEN H. C. WONG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When my turn comes, you can almost be sure that all arguments have been exhausted. I can only repeat points if I am to make my speech. That being so, I support the Council urging the Government to review the policy of disposal of household refuse and to introduce environmental friendly and cost effective ways to deal with refuse by means of incineration. So I can only say that I support the motion. I do not want to repeat the points made by my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Page 66 of 126

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 66 of 126

113

are all day long emitting waste gases. They are not only creating air pollution but also the so called acid rain. The life span of human beings can be shortened by this acid rain and health is being jeopardized by these gases. Here I would like to say that I support the Government to constructing modern incinerators to dispose of waste rather than relying solely on landfill. That is very strange? In 1986, the Chief Engineer from the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department told me that there was no way to identify sites for landfills. Hong Kong is small with a great deal of waste. How could we use landfills sites? But of course after a lot of urge from members of the public and after the advice of Urban Council on the harm by incinerators, the policy of the Government has changed. But then the Government did not embark on identifying environment-friendly methods to treat the wastes. In addition to landfills, the Government only offers us Hobson's choice. We must choose either one or the other and therefore members of the public misunderstood that we are creating pollution. Our duty is to collect the wastes, have them transferred to the collection points, our duty stops at that. How are we to do away with old incinerators and replace them with cost effective environment-friendly incinerators? I think the Government should feel very shameful about this. It should conduct an active review on this situation. About two months ago, together with two members of the Regional Council, I met the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection and we talked about incinerators. Amongst others, we discussed the treatment of clinical wastes and special incinerators for them. Just now the Chairman said that for high-tech modern incinerators they can treat clinical wastes at the same time for hospitals. I think the Government should try to do this immediately. As far as I know the EPD has suggested these incinerators but because of some financial reasons the Government has postponed the proposal. Recently the EPD again has put up the proposal. I hope that through our debate today, the Central Government would come up with some sound measures or two prompt measures to treat the waste including the education of the public to recycle or reduce wastes. As regards incinerators we have just heard that they can treat wastes effectively in an environmentally friendly manner. I must emphasise 'environmentally friendly'. With the existing two incinerators, I hope that the Government can close them down as soon as possible. In fact, they should have been closed down 15 years ago. I really do not understand why they are still operating. Mr. Chairman, in order to protect public health in Hong Kong, to create a better environment in Hong Kong, to enjoy fresh air and every citizen can have a clean lung, I support the motion.

MR. SAN STEPHEN H. C. WONG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When my turn comes, you can almost be sure that all arguments have been exhausted. I can only repeat points if I am to make my speech. That being so, I support the Council urging the Government to review the policy of disposal of household refuse and to introduce environmental friendly and cost effective ways to deal with refuse by means of incineration. So I can only say that I support the motion. I do not want to repeat the points made by my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1992 — Page 66

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