Contradictory stories: Hong Kong Tin Shui Wai residents confused after officials inspect suspected illegal waste dump
Residents of Kingswood Villas fear repeat of Shenzhen landslide as they look out on a four-storey ‘waste hill’
Tin Shui Wai residents living near what they believe is a huge illegal waste dump were thrown into confusion last night after being told of seemingly conflicting findings from different government departments over the legality of the land use.
The site, near private housing estate Kingswood Villas, was once a green belt but is now a “waste hill” as tall as a four-storey building and spread over an area about the size of two football pitches, residents said.
READ MORE: 85 still missing as rescuers search for survivors after massive Shenzhen landslide
Inspectors from the Lands Department, Town Planning Department and Environmental Protection Department yesterday visited the site in search of answers.
An initial check showed there was no breach of land lease conditions, as it was on a private plot on which no restriction of use had been imposed.
“Filling the land does not breach any term of the land lease,” the Lands Department said.
The Town Planning Department said it had conducted a site inspection in late January after receiving public complaints and found “some vegetation had been removed and there were signs of land excavation”.
The inspection yesterday revealed further land excavation and land filling work had been carried out at the site.
“Should there be sufficient evidence to prove the works constitute an unauthorised development, appropriate enforcement action will be taken,” the Town Planning Department said.
Meanwhile, an investigation by the Environmental Protection Department showed the soil had been there “for many years”.
“There were signs of land excavation on the site and a lot of soil and rock debris were exposed. But there was no sign of illegal dumping of waste… and it does not expose nearby residents to excessive pollution,” the Environmental Protection Department said.
The conflicting statements will do nothing to ease the fears of residents haunted by the spectre of a landslide at a similar waste dump in Shenzhen in December.
Then, construction waste that had piled up at a former quarry for several years collapsed, causing an avalanche of mud and debris which killed 69 people and destroyed more than 30 buildings.
Labour Party community organiser Chiu Yan-loy said: “The more government departments that are involved in an issue, the bigger the risk it will evolve into a complicated problem that will result in no solution.”
