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Press
Releases - 1998
More
land allocated exclusively for recycling industry
As part
of its continuing effort to promote local recycling activities,
the Government has allocated another piece of affordable land
in Sheung Shui today (Monday) for the exclusive use of recycling
industry.
The lot,
being the second piece of land identified for the above purpose,
has been awarded under a short-term tenancy to a local metal
waste recycler.
Principal
Environmental Protection Officer Dr Lau May-ming said this
special land allocation arrangement, which was initiated under
the government's waste reduction plan, had received positive
responses from the recyclers.
"As the
profit of waste recovery and recycling is often marginal,
leasing land exclusively to waste recyclers could limit price
competition and hence lower their operation cost.
"There
is no reserve rent for the tenancy and the highest bid which
fulfils the tenancy conditions for waste recycling was selected.
"We believe
such a provision of affordable and suitable land to recyclers
will encourage them to invest capital in new technology and
promote the local recycling activity in Hong Kong.
"We also
hope this will help the industry establish a sustainable business
environment and create a demand for local waste so as to develop
the necessary market force," Dr Lau said.
The site
is formerly a temporary housing area at Choi Shun Street,
Sheung Shui. The site area is about 1.6 hectares and the term
of the tenancy is three years certain and renewable quarterly
thereafter.
The successful
tenderer, Cheung Shing Scrap Metals Recycling Ltd, is a local
waste recycler specialising in collecting and recycling metal
waste materials.
With
a well-established local supply network, the company collects
and recycles ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste generated
in Hong Kong.
The Government
is now working on the third piece of land for tendering early
next year.
"We are
committed to identifying and allocating more suitable land
for the local recycling industry," Dr Lau said.
To ensure
that the Government could achieve the purpose of enhancing
local waste recycling and bettering the environment, Dr Lau
said, the Government would monitor the recycling operation
at the Tuen Mun and Sheung Shui sites and review the land
allocation arrangement.
The Tuen
Mun site, awarded to a local plastic waste recycler in July
1998, was the first piece of land allocated for tendering
exclusively by local recyclers.
End/Monday,
September 7, 1998
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