CS Inspects Cleaning Work at Lap Sap Wan

On 28 July 2015, most of the refuse at Lap Sap Wan were removed out.
On 28 July 2015, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Ms Carrie Lam (second right) visits Lap Sap Wan, Shek O and is briefed by the Assistant Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr. K.K. Li (second left), on the recent cleanup operation carried out at Lap Sap Wan.
On 28 July 2015, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Ms Carrie Lam (first right) visits Lap Sap Wan, Shek O and is briefed by the Assistant Director of Marine, Mr. F.L. Cheuk (first left), on shipping away the refuse collected at Lap Sap Wan for disposal.
On 28 July 2015, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Ms Carrie Lam (first left) visits Lap Sap Wan, Shek O and is briefed by the Senior Environmental Protection Officer, Ms. Greta Tam (second left), on the factors influencing accumulation of marine refuse at Lap Sap Wan.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, inspected cleaning work at Lap Sap Wan, Shek O, on 28 July 2015 and received a briefing on the work on shoreline cleaning by various departments. Mrs Lam was accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man; the Acting Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh; the Director of Environmental Protection, Ms Anissa Wong; and the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Miss Vivian Lau.

The Inter-departmental Working Group conducted a comprehensive study on marine refuse in Hong Kong. The study indicates that wind direction and water currents have a marked effect on refuse accumulation in coastal areas. It has identified 27 priority sites prone to refuse accumulation for the relevant Working Group departments to strengthen clean-up activities. Lap Sap Wan is one of the priority sites prone to refuse accumulation. To restore the cleanliness of the site, the FEHD and the MD have conducted a joint operation to clear most of the refuse accumulated on the shoreline. The FEHD will also conduct regular clean-up activities at Lap Sap Wan in the future.

Press Release

Progress of Cleanup Operation

29 April 2015 (Before cleanup)
29 April 2015
(Before cleanup)
24 June 2015
24 June 2015
7 July 2015
7 July 2015
24 July 2015
24 July 2015
15 September 2015(After cleanup)
15 September 2015
(After cleanup)

Cleaning up the beach was no easy task due to technical, weather and safety concerns. The whole operation took place in about three months, from May to August 2015, including a trial run in mid-May to try out the cleanup method by the FEHD and MD. About 8,860 bags of refuse and some timber were collected. FEHD’s contractor packed the refuse into plastic bags, before handed over to MD’s contractor which shipped the bags of refuse and timber to the Ap Lei Chau Marine Refuse Collection Point and loaded them onto a grab lorry for disposal at landfill.

A walk-through of the cleaning operation
Lap Sap Wan is an easterly-facing bay on the southern tip of Shek O, located near the Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve. It is exposed and embedded in sheer cliffs; however, there is no access road.
Lap Sap Wan is an easterly-facing bay on the southern tip of Shek O, located near the Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve. It is exposed and embedded in sheer cliffs; however, there is no access road.
The beach is dotted with irregular-shaped, submerged and semi-submerged rocks, which are hazardous to boats when waves surge.
The beach is dotted with irregular-shaped, submerged and semi-submerged rocks, which are hazardous to boats when waves surge.
Sea surface is always subject to downhill and uphill winds, resulting in turbulent waves.
Sea surface is always subject to downhill and uphill winds, resulting in turbulent waves.
Sea waves are exacerbated by easterly gusts in the winter, rendering calm periods available only in the summer, at low tides and during daytime. These are the only periods for accessing the beach by boat.
Sea waves are exacerbated by easterly gusts in the winter, rendering calm periods available only in the summer, at low tides and during daytime. These are the only periods for accessing the beach by boat.
The bay is vulnerable to refuse accumulation due to the predominantly easterly wind with sudden gust during dry season in the winter. During wet season the bay also tends to accumulate refuse under the influence of strong currents and waves.
The bay is vulnerable to refuse accumulation due to the predominantly easterly wind with sudden gust during dry season in the winter. During wet season the bay also tends to accumulate refuse under the influence of strong currents and waves.
Refuse from both land-based and marine-based sources from all directions will be carried by the prevailing winds and water currents to Lap Sap Wan and settles there.
Refuse from both land-based and marine-based sources from all directions will be carried by the prevailing winds and water currents to Lap Sap Wan and settles there.
Refuse items such as foam plastic items, plastic buckets, plastic bottles, fishing nets, rope, buoys, floats, metal tins, waste tyres, etc., were found on the beach before the cleanup operation.
Refuse items such as foam plastic items, plastic buckets, plastic bottles, fishing nets, rope, buoys, floats, metal tins, waste tyres, etc., were found on the beach before the cleanup operation.
Most of the time, workers manually packed the refuse into plastic bags, and at times used shovels and rakes to loosen refuse. The timber, abandoned fishing nets and rope were put aside and piled up for special handling.
Most of the time, workers manually packed the refuse into plastic bags, and at times used shovels and rakes to loosen refuse. The timber, abandoned fishing nets and rope were put aside and piled up for special handling.
An excavator was used to loosen and remove huge loads of abandoned fishing nets and rope.
An excavator was used to loosen and remove huge loads of abandoned fishing nets and rope.
Workers worked under temporary shades made of plastic sheets and wooden sticks to protect from the blazing sun.
Workers worked under temporary shades made of plastic sheets and wooden sticks to protect from the blazing sun.
Workers continued working under the temporary shades during rainy days.
Workers continued working under the temporary shades during rainy days.
Abandoned ropes tangled with fishing nets and floats, forming huge loads. Two workers used an electric cutter to cut the refuse into smaller pieces to facilitate the bagging process.
Abandoned ropes tangled with fishing nets and floats, forming huge loads. Two workers used an electric cutter to cut the refuse into smaller pieces to facilitate the bagging process.
Bags of refuses were left above the high tide mark on the beach, waiting for removal by MD’s contractor on another day with calm weather.
Bags of refuses were left above the high tide mark on the beach, waiting for removal by MD’s contractor on another day with calm weather.
A worker transferred bags of refuse from the refuse piles, which were stored further inland, to the waterline for subsequent transfer to a motor sampan.
A worker transferred bags of refuse from the refuse piles, which were stored further inland, to the waterline for subsequent transfer to a motor sampan.
A team of workers loaded the bags of refuse onto a motor sampan for transfer to a larger vessel berthed in deeper water.
A team of workers loaded the bags of refuse onto a motor sampan for transfer to a larger vessel berthed in deeper water.
Several workers pushed a motor sampan, which was filled up with refuse, into the water for setting off.
Several workers pushed a motor sampan, which was filled up with refuse, into the water for setting off.
Workers used a crane to transfer piles of timber from a motor sampan to a larger vessel.
Workers used a crane to transfer piles of timber from a motor sampan to a larger vessel.
Bags of refuse were loaded on a larger vessel for transporting to the Ap Lei Chau Marine Refuse Collection Point.
Bags of refuse were loaded on a larger vessel for transporting to the Ap Lei Chau Marine Refuse Collection Point.
Refuse bags were lifted by a crane from the vessel at the open space at Ap Lei Chau Marine Refuse Collection Point; and then loaded onto a grab lorry for disposal at landfill.
Refuse bags were lifted by a crane from the vessel at the open space at Ap Lei Chau Marine Refuse Collection Point; and then loaded onto a grab lorry for disposal at landfill.
A natural pebble beach reappeared after the cleanup operation.
A natural pebble beach reappeared after the cleanup operation.