Lawmakers opposing the government's waste incineration plans owed the public an explanation on why a city facing a mounting waste crisis must wait longer for a solution - and should offer their practical alternatives - the environment minister says.
In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Edward Yau Tang-wah said the waste issue deserved rational and objective discussion but had been politicised as major political parties expressed reservations about it.
But he refrained from saying if chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying had meddled in his waste policy after Leung announced a 'zero' quota for mainland mothers giving birth in Hong Kong private hospitals from next year. Both policies have implications for the transition of the old and new administrations and legislatures.
Yau said those politicians who delayed or disapproved of his plans should explain to the public why they would need to put up with more landfilling of waste equivalent to seven Exchange Square towers a year.
'Will waiting a few more months solve the problem?' he asked. 'Why do we have to wait? Is it just because of a single remark by the chief executive-elect? Is it because of the election? Or is it due to the fact Hong Kong has not achieved the highest recycling rate in the world ... society deserves a reason why we have to wait.'
Yau said the city could not afford any further delay, as the quest for waste solutions had started more than a decade ago and there had been intensive discussion already.
He also said he had never heard of instructions from the chief executive-elect to halt the projects. He would not say if he had met Leung on the issue, but stressed that Leung's platform focused on waste reduction, as the current policy did, and did not exclude incineration. 'It is a task of necessity no matter who is in charge,' said Yau, adding that he 'hoped and was confident' that the next administration would respect the fact.