Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has vowed to track down whoever was responsible for the plastic-pellets spill that has polluted Hong Kong's waters. But she said the government had yet to confirm whether mainland oil giant Sinopec was the legal owner of the shipment.
A law professor, meanwhile, said the ownership would depend on the terms of the contract between Sinopec, which produced the pellets, and the buyer.
Lam said the Department of Justice was working with the Marine Department to establish how the 150 tonnes of plastic pellets, in six shipping containers lost overboard during Severe Typhoon Vicente, which hit the city two weeks ago. They were also seeking to learn details of and the deal between the pellets' buyer and the shipping company.
The pellets, normally used to make plastic products, are harmless but green campaigners say they may absorb contaminants and enter the food chain.
'Let me stress it here that we will definitely be persistent in pursuing those liable,' Lam said after a visit to fish farms off Chi Ma Wan, Lantau, yesterday. 'You can rest assured that the Secretary of Justice himself will follow it up.'
She also said ex gratia payments would be made to affected fish farmers. Five of 26 fish culture zones in Hong Kong were hard hit by the spill.
Her comments came as more fish farmers complained about finding pellets in the stomachs of fish. Government workers and volunteers were still busy cleaning up beaches where pellets were scattered.