THE Dutch and German governments will send experts to Hong Kong this month in a battle over who will take responsibility for 700 tonnes of dumped plastic.
Two representatives will sift through containers that have been stuck in the territory since April, with a view to splitting the costs of shipment according to how much rubbish belongs to each country.
The German Foreign Office admitted it would not meet the January 23 deadline set by the Basle Convention for its removal.
That leaves the record 700-tonne haul in Hong Kong against international law while the two sort out their differences.
Dutch and German authorities, the Government and a major Japanese shipping firm are all embroiled in the dispute.
The Government says it is waiting to hear what the two countries will do about it - a stand attacked by environmentalists who accuse it of kowtowing to the European nations.
