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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Nevertheless, at present the Administration is in the process of employing consultants to conduct a study on bulk waste reduction to examine the feasibility of various kinds of waste sorting and reduction facilities. Once the recommendations from the consultancy have been studied by the Administration, Central Government will consult the two Municipal Councils.
Until and unless there was any formulation of a comprehensive programme by the Administration, perhaps arising from the recommendations of the consultancy on bulk waste reduction, the Department will continue to implement the various supporting programmes to promote the '3Rs' concept which I have already described.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council has always been criticized for lacking initiatives or not doing anything effective. My question concerning the '3Rs' i.e. reduction, reuse and recycling, once again it shows that we are lagging behind others. I say this because Mr. WONG has said that Urban Council is the authority for the collection of wastes. Separation of wastes should be regarded as a way of waste collection. If this is the case, why should we await initiatives from the Central Government? Why can't we take the initiative? Why can't we be more active so that we can separate the wastes that we are collecting? I said that we were lagging behind because as mentioned in the reply, we have encouraged public housing estates to separate wastes. Some private collectors are also encouraging people to separate wastes. Why can't we do it ourselves? We are responsible for collecting wastes from public housing estates. Public housing estates are managed by the Housing Authority and the Housing Department and are also part of the Government's structure. Why can't we also be more active? If private refuse collectors can separate the waste, why can't we do the same as we are the collection authority of urban household wastes? If private sectors can do it, why can't we do it? Why can't we provide some facilities at our RCPs to facilitate separation of wastes and also waste paper recovery so that we can encourage participation of the community? Regarding the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee, I understand that they will also take on board the 3Rs'. I hope that the Council should not be seen as just shouting slogans without taking any concrete action.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is correct that Mr. MA and citizens may have the feeling that as far as waste collection, waste separation and waste recovery are concerned, we are not as keen and active as the community. I am afraid he is telling the truth. But then the Urban Council and staff of USD will not regard that they are not doing enough. On the contrary, they will continue to strive harder in this regard. Private refuse collectors can operate more flexibly. They can separate the wastes and sell the recyclable wastes to other companies for profit. As far as the USD is concerned, if we would like to launch such a scheme, say for example on a wider basis, then it would take time to plan to educate the public, otherwise it won't be effective. I can assure you that we are striving towards such a target. Regarding the disposal of waste in the urban area as well as the whole territory, recovery and separation of waste is certainly one single problem. The USD together with
Page 109 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
RSD are reflecting our concerns to the Central Government regarding recovery and separation of waste. A consultancy firm has been engaged to launch a territory-wide study. It is hoped that there will be a feasible scheme for implementation. As far as recovery of wastes and wastes separation are concerned, it is not easy to launch such a campaign in housing estates even though private refuse collectors are doing the same. I think waste minimization is even more important. Recovery of wastes and recycling of wastes are not very positive measures. I think the more positive action is to tell the community to reduce the generation of wastes. I think it is a more positive attitude and behaviour and that should go hand in hand with the separation and recovery of wastes. I hope that some time after mid-year there will be some sorts of comprehensive waste recovery and separation schemes to be suggested.
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have got two supplementary questions. One is regarding paragraph 2(b) of the reply of Mr. Wong. Mention is made of sending dedicated teams to collect the disposed vehicle tyres. I don't think the tyres are discarded by individual car owners. I think they are abandoned by the car repair shops. So my question is: When teams are able to identify the waste generators of such disposed tyres, will they take enforcement action against them? My second question is: in relation to the reply given by Mr. Wong i.e. other than collecting wastes, has the Public Health Select Committee been considering separating toxic household waste, e.g. batteries and empty cans of pesticides or insecticides? I understand that in Hong Kong, we are making use of landfills to dispose of our household wastes but such toxic household wastes will pose a hazard in future.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, there are two questions here. The first about prosecution action against abandoned waste tyres. If we are able to identify who are abandoning the waste tyres, then I am sure that USD will take action. But usually it will be difficult to take enforcement action because they won't abandon the waste tyres during daylight, so that constitutes difficulties for us. This is similar to dog owners allowing dogs to foul the streets. Unless dog owners allowing their dogs fouling the place are caught red-handed, it is difficult to summon them. As to the other question about the harmful substances in the household waste e.g. the batteries. I have shown a keen interest in this matter e.g. we have found dry batteries being disposed of in the incinerators. Such batteries are highly toxic and will cause acid rain which is harmful to our plants as well as human beings. Even they are to be disposed of in landfills they will still cause harmful effects to us. Before we can get hold of sophisticated incinerators, I am afraid landfilling such dry batteries is one of the ways. But of course recently the Urban Council has requested the Central Government to implement a sophisticated central incineration facility to deal with medical wastes as well as toxic household waste. I believe that the EPD as well as the Urban Council have been working on this matter. It is hoped that we can have major improvement in future. Thank you.
Page 109 of 132
Page 109 of 132
218
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Nevertheless, at present the Administration is in the process of employing consultants to conduct a study on bulk waste reduction to examine the feasibility of various kinds of waste sorting and reduction facilities. Once the recommendations from the consultancy have been studied by the Administration, Central Government will consult the two Municipal Councils.
Until and unless there was any formulation of a comprehensive programme by the Administration, perhaps arising from the recommendations of the consultancy on bulk waste reduction, the Department will continue to implement the various supporting programmes to promote the '3Rs' concept which I have already described.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council has always been criticized for lacking initiatives or not doing any thing effective. My question concerning the '3Rs' i.e. reduction, reuse and recycling, once again it shows that we are lagging behind others. I say this because Mr. WONG has said that Urban Council is the authority for the collection of wastes. Separation of wastes should be regarded as a way of waste collection. If this is the case, why should we await initiatives from the Central Government? Why can't we take the initiative? Why can't we be more active so that we can separate the wastes that we are collecting? I said that we were lagging behind becuase as mentioned in the reply, we have encouraged public housing estates to separate wastes. Some private collectors are also encouraging people to separate wastes. Why can't we do it ourselves? We are responsible for collecting wastes from public housing estates. Public housing estates are managed by the Housing Authority and the Housing Department and are also part of the Government's structure. Why can't we also be more active? If private refuse collectors can separate the waste, why can't we do the same as we are the collection authority of urban household wastes? If private sectors can do it, why can't we do it? Why can't we provide some facilities at our RCPs to facilitate separation of wastes and also waste paper recovery so that we can encourage participation of the community? Regarding the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee, I understand that they will also take on board the 3Rs'. I hope that the Council should not be seen as just shouting slogans without taking any concrete action.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, it is correct that Mr. MA and citizens may have the feeling that as far as waste collection, waste separation and waste recovery are concerned, we are not as keen and active as the community. I am afraid he is telling the truth. But then the Urban Council and staff of USD will not regard that they are not doing enough. On the contrary, they will continue to strive harder in this regard. Private refuse collectors can operate more flexibly. They can separate the wastes and sell the recyclable wastes to other companies for profit. As far as the USD is concerned, if we would like to launch such a scheme, say for example on a wider basis, then it would take time to plan to educate the public, otherwise it won't be effective. I can assure you that we are striving towards such a target. Regarding the disposal of waste in the urban area as well as the whole territory, recovery and separation of waste is certainly one single problem. The USD together with
Page 109 of 132
Page 109 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
219
RSD are reflecting our concerns to the Central Government regarding recovery and separation of waste. An consultancy firm has been engaged to launch a territory wide study. It is hoped that there will be a feasible scheme for implementation. As far as recovery of wastes and wastes separation are concerned, it is not easy to launch such a campaign in housing estates even though private refuse collectors are doing the same. I think waste minimization is even more important. Recovery of wastes and recycling of wastes are not very positive measures. I think the more positive action is to tell the community to reduce the generation of wastes. I think it is a more positive attitude and behaviour and that should go hand in hand with the separation and recovery of wastes. I hope that some time after mid year there will be some sorts of comprehensive waste recovery and separation schemes to be suggested.
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have got two supplementary questions. One is regarding paragraph 2(b) of the reply of Mr. Wong. Mention is made of sending dedicated teams to collect the disposed vehicle tyres. I don't think the tyres are discarded by individual car owners. I think they are abandoned by the car repair shops. So my question is: When teams are able to identify the wastes generators of such disposed tyres, will they take enforcement action against them? My second question is: in relation to the reply given by Mr. Wong i.e. other than collecting wastes, has the Public Health Select Committee been considering separating toxic household waste, e.g. batteries and empty cans of pesticides or insecticides? I understand that in Hong Kong, we are making use of landfills to dispose of our household wastes but such toxic household wastes will pose a hazard in future.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, there are two questions here. The first about prosecution action against abandoned waste tyres. If we are able to identify who are abandoning the waste tyres, then I am sure that USD will take action. But usually it will be difficult to take enforcement action because they won't abandon the waste tyres during day light, so that constitutes difficulties for us. This is similar to dog owners allowing dogs to foul the streets. Unless dog owners allowing their dogs fouling the place are caught red-handed, it is difficult to summons them. As to the other question about the harmful substances fund in the household waste e.g. the batteries. I have shown a keen interest in this matter e.g. we have found dry batteries being disposed of in the incinerators. Such batteries are highly toxic and will cause acid rain which is harmful to our plants as well as human beings. Even they are to be disposed of in landfills they will still cause harmful effects to us. Before we can get hold of sophisticated incinerators, I am afraid landfilling such dry batteries is one of the ways. But of course recently the Urban Council has requested the Central Government to implement a sophisticated central incineration facility to deal with medical wastes as well as toxic household waste. I believe that the EPD as well as the Urban Council have been working on this matter. It is hoped that we can have major improvement in future. Thank you.
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