Letter to the editor of SCMP - Response to reader's letter on waste-to-energy project
Dear Sir,
I wish to correct Paul Melsome’s mis-perceptions the Environmental Protection Department does not care about the environment (“Environmental official should seek to protect, not ruin”, February 4).
The waste-to-energy project to be built near Shek Kwu Chau is an essential piece of environmental infrastructure for waste management. Hong Kong must tackle its imminent waste problem in order to help achieve sustainable waste management for the community.
When planning this project, the environmental impact assessment included comprehensive ecological studies to prevent adverse environmental impacts and control impacts to acceptable levels. This includes minimising the extent of the reclamation, adopting suitable control measures, and creating a sizable marine park of 700 hectares to be designated in the waters between Shek Kwu Chau and Soko Islands.
Deploying artificial reefs and releasing fish fry will be a part of the work to manage this new marine park so as to enhance its ecological value. Other mitigation measures during construction and operation will also include avoiding noisy works during peak finless porpoise season, adopting regular vessel routes and limiting vessel speed.
Mr Melsome opines there is “fundamental conflicts” between our role in developing the waste-to-energy project and our participation in the committee to formulate Hong Kong’s first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) as part of Hong Kong’s contribution to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
We see no such conflict. Both sustainable waste management and creating a more comprehensive approach to biodiversity are integral to Hong Kong’s environmental needs.
Christine Loh
Under Secretary for the Environment