Officials are concerned that dumping of construction waste and filling has damaged a site of special scientific interest which is protected by an international convention
ERNEST.KAO@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Thursday, 07 April, 2016, 9:08am
The area in the northwest New Territories where the dumping took place. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Environment authorities are taking action over a case of dumping of construction waste and filling in the northwest New Territories, part of which belongs to an ecologically sensitive wetland that is protected by an international convention.
This comes about four months after the landfilling activities were reported in Tsim Bei Tsui. The affected area covers about one hectare.
Site inspection revealed that natural mangroves had been excavated and covered with fill material in an area that was part private and part government. It is mainly zoned as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). A small part is green belt, according to the Environmental Protection Department.
The dumping, filling and excavation works were conducted without prior permission from any government department and breached the conditions of an environmental impact assessment as well as the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the department said.
A mangrove area near Tsim Bei Tsui in the northwest New Territories. Photo: SCMP
A spokesman said it would initiate prosecution action against those involved, including an on-site person responsible for the site, a transport contractor and a lorry driver.
Offenders can face a fine of up to HK$500,000 and six months in prison under the Waste Disposal Ordinance, with a daily fine imposed for a continuing offence.
A breach of an environmental impact assessment through excavation or construction in a site of special scientific interest can result in a maximum fine of HK$2 million and six months in prison.
“The government departments under the working group will continue to follow up on the case. As investigations and follow-up actions are still under way, further enforcement action and prosecution may be taken,” the spokesman said.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department was also “examining ways to restore the affected area to safeguard the ecology of the Tsim Bei Tsui area”, he said.
The area is located in the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. It is protected by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for wetland conservation, and the SSSI designation under the Town Planning Ordinance.
Dr Michael Lau Wai-neng, assistant director for conservation at WWF-Hong Kong, which runs the Mai Po Nature Reserve, said it was good that the department was taking action as there was not prompt enforcement in many similar examples.
“I think they are under some degree of pressure in light of the recent cases of illegal dumping around Hong Kong,” he said, referring to cases such as the four-storey high “waste hill” in Tin Shui Wai that caused a public outcry.
Lau added the fact that such a protected site in Deep Bay could be subject to such destruction reflected weak monitoring by the government and penalties that were too low. He said the government should make the landowner restore the land to its original state.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1934074/hong-kong-government-plans-prosecute-over-dumping
