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Press
Release
Appeal
Board confirms EPD's decision not to issue permit to CT9 contractor
The Dumping
at Sea Appeal Board today (May 31) confirmed the decision
of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to reject
the application by the Container Terminal 9 (CT 9) contractor
for a permit to load contaminated mud onto vessels for disposal
in mainland waters near south of Erzhou.
The Appeal
Board's decision was made after a five-day hearing in February
arising out of an appeal filed by the CT9 contractor, Hyundai-CECC
Joint Venture, against the decision of the EPD.
A spokesman
for the EPD said: "We are pleased to learn that the Appeal
Board has confirmed our decision."
"We have
changed our procedures for issuing a loading permit since
last September based on the advice of the Department of Justice
of the extent of our powers under the Dumping at Sea Ordinance.
"We require
direct evidence to prove that mud dumping outside Hong Kong
waters will not cause any unacceptable impact on the marine
environment, otherwise, the EPD will not permit any transfer
of dredged mud out of Hong Kong," the spokesman noted.
The CT9
contractor has been unable to provide sufficient evidence
to prove that the proposed dumping in mainland waters will
not cause unacceptable impact.
However,
the contractor is still entitled under another permit issued
by the EPD to dispose of the mud in special pits for contaminated
mud at East Sha Chau in Hong Kong waters where close monitoring
is in place to ensure that no unacceptable impacts are caused
to the environment.
End/Thursday,
May 31, 2001
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