Vested interests driving waste project

There were quick responses to R. E. J. Bunker's letter on marine accidents, which he believes would become more likely with barge traffic to and from the planned Shek Kwu Chau waste incinerator ("Incinerator will raise risk of collisions", April 11).

Elvis Au, an assistant director of the Environmental Protection Department ("Traffic generated by waste management facility will be light, April 17) assured readers that marine transportation will continue to comply with safety measures.

He blithely ignores the fact that even with these measures, there have been recent accidents, including the collision between a Cheung Chau passenger ferry and a barge.

But then, in his role as front man for the mega incinerator project, Mr Au is adept at ignoring information that suggests it will be anything but glorious.

At a public meeting last December, I remarked that incineration results in emissions of poisonous chemicals and toxic ash.

Mr Au responded that my information was 40 years out of date - suggesting he was badly misinformed, as there are a host of reports and studies on recent health issues with incinerators, including in Macau.

Mr Au also boasted that he is an engineer, and would not do anything to harm people's health, which to me is like a doctor promising that a bridge will not collapse.