A group of environmental scientists have issued a joint statement to support a government plan to expand landfills to solve the city's mounting waste problem, warning that local interests blocking the scheme will ultimately make Hong Kong a "joke" to the world.
"We feel deeply anxious and worried that the discussions on landfill expansion have dwelled on local interests. The severe challenge to solve the waste problem is neglected," the statement, signed by 56 scholars from different universities and three environmental groups, read.
It came as the government lobbied lawmakers to approve funding for enlarging the city's three landfills in Tuen Mun, Ta Kwu Ling and Tseung Kwan O, all of which will be full by 2020. Officials want to take the funding proposals to the Legislative Council before the summer recess starting next month.
Lawmakers are concerned about expansion of the Tseung Kwan O landfill, which is close to a residential area. Two weeks ago, they held a marathon meeting to hear angry residents and groups complain of odour and dust from the waste dumps.
The scholars warned of "disastrous" consequences if the landfills were not enlarged. "Our waste will have nowhere to go but lie around everywhere in housing estates and collection points... We will become a joke to the world."
Jonathan Wong Woon-chung, a biology professor from Baptist University and a signatory, said expansion was necessary because the government's waste strategy could take three to 10 years to put in place. The strategy includes the introduction of a waste charge, an incinerator and food waste recycling plants. The aim is a 40 per cent cut in waste dumped in landfills by 2020.