FROM time to time I enjoy walking along the beach fronting the Sha Lan and Chan Uk Chuen villages. Of late, this beach has shown signs of positive recovery with many areas now covered in clean sand. Recently, however, I was shocked to note, near the large banyan tree between Chan Uk Chuen and Sha Lan, that a large quantity of building debris has been dumped on what appears to be Crown land. This dumping extends down to water level. The debris appears devoid of any concrete wall protecting erosion on to the beach. Would the Tai Po Lands Officer please advise: (a) If the dumping is authorised by his office, and if so, what conditions are in force to control such, particularly in preventing erosion into the sea and subsequent pollution of the beach? (b) If the dumping is unauthorised, what action will be taken against the developer for this seemingly uncontrolled mess? It seems reasonable to claim that a public beach should not be despoiled by developers unwilling to face costs for the removal of debris. Perhaps the Department of Environmental Protection could also investigate and comment. NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
