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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, inspected a newly installed video camera surveillance system at Tai Shui Hang Refuse Collection Point, Ma On Shan, this morning (October 7) to see for himself the work in combating the fly-tipping of construction waste.
As stepped-up efforts against the fly-tipping of construction waste are one of the key initiatives of the "Keep Clean 2015@Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign, Mr Wong visited Tai Shui Hang Refuse Collection Point, a fly-tipping blackspot, to get an update on the work of relevant government departments. Accompanying Mr Wong were Sha Tin District Officer, Ms Cora Ho, the Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Tse Chin-wan, and representatives from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Highways Department (HyD).
Under a pilot scheme newly launched by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), surveillance video cameras will be installed at 12 fly-tipping black spots in order to step up monitoring and assist in the collection of evidence against this illegal activity. By recording fly-tipping activities, the surveillance system helps the EPD to identify the vehicles involved in fly-tipping and track down the vehicle owners and the offenders, thus enabling the investigation and prosecution of offenders. In addition, the surveillance system also serves as a deterrent to the illegal dumping of waste in public areas. Subject to the effectiveness of the pilot scheme, the EPD will consider extending the surveillance programme to other fly-tipping black spots if necessary.
In order to combat the fly-tipping of construction waste, the EPD has set up an inter-departmental co-ordination mechanism to facilitate collaboration among various government departments in the monitoring of fly-tipping black spots, exchange of intelligence, co-ordination of enforcement actions, and the clearing of fly-tipped waste as soon as practicable. The participating departments are the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Buildings Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the FEHD, the Drainage Services Department, the Home Affairs Department, the HyD, the Lands Department and the Planning Department.
After being briefed by representatives of the relevant departments, Mr Wong noted the difficulties encountered, adding that more resources were needed for investigations and prosecutions. In order to keep Hong Kong clean, the relevant government departments must continue to work closely to combat the illegal activity of fly-tipping and clear the fly-tipped waste, he said.
Under the Keep Clean campaign, the EPD has also enhanced its co-operation with other government departments, the District Councils and the local community to enhance publicity and public education activities at the district level and on housing estates. In this way the EPD hopes to improve awareness of proper disposal of construction waste among members of the public, shop owners, housing estate management companies and waste collectors.
In concluding the visit, Mr Wong said that in addition to government efforts, community collaboration and the participation of all members of the public are indispensable in keeping our environment clean. Noting that the Keep Hong Kong Clean campaign is aimed at promoting public awareness of environmental hygiene, Mr Wong called on members of the public and relevant district organisations to join with the Government to continue keeping Hong Kong clean.
Ends/Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:10
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