Sarah Liao says better laws may be needed to protect HK's natural heritage
Environment chief Sarah Liao Sau-tung yesterday vowed to seek the prosecution of those responsible for extensive damage to the Tung Chung river.
Surveying what she described as 'horrendous' damage to the Lantau river, Dr Liao also pledged to review laws to better protect precious natural heritage.
The secretary for the environment, transport and works visited the river with a group of environmentalists. A 300-metre section of the river between Shek Mun Kap and Shek Lau Po was last week found to have been heavily excavated.
Hundreds of tonnes of boulders had been removed and sold to beautify an artificial lake under construction by the government near the Disney site. The boulders were rejected after their origin was revealed. The excavation was illegally ordered by the Tung Chung Rural Committee which hired a villager contractor for the work.
'It's quite shocking to see how a river can be damaged to the extent that it is now. The river has virtually died,' Dr Liao said yesterday.
She said the Lands Department was considering prosecuting the committee under the Lands (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, while the police may lay charges against the committee's chief under theft laws.
