Laws on dumping on private land not up to scratch, says minister

Environment minister Edward Yau Tang-wah acknowledged yesterday that the regime for regulating the dumping of construction waste on private land was inadequate.

'There are certainly some incidents which we do not like to see happen and yet are, strictly speaking, within the law,' Mr Yau told a special meeting of Legislative Council's environmental affairs panel. 'To be frank, yes, under the existing regime we are put in a difficult position ... It is clear there are circumstances where we have no lawful authority to act.'

The government's willingness to consider legislating for further powers was praised by lawmakers as a 'good first step'.

The government at present has no authority to act against the disposal of construction and demolition waste on private land, as long as the landowner has given permission.

However, the landowners of the areas affected, often in the New Territories, are sometimes difficult to locate, and the piles of rubble can be a public nuisance and eyesore even when dumped with permission.

The government has pledged to co-ordinate efforts between various departments to enhance monitoring of suspected illegal dumping.