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Press
Releases - 2000
Hong
Kong's dioxin levels pose no health threat
Dioxin
levels in Hong Kong pose no health risk according to dioxin
experts.
A spokesman
for the Environmental Protection Department said today (April
17) that in response to the public's concern on dioxin, the
EPD had appointed a consultancy firm to assess dioxin emissions
in Hong Kong.
The EPD
has further engaged Professor Christoffer Rappe of the Umea
University in Sweden to review the consultants' findings independently.
"Both
the consultants and Professor Rappe concluded that the ambient
levels of dioxin in Hong Kong were similar to those in other
urbanised areas in the world.
"They
also concluded that the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre in
Tsing Yi had already adopted the world's most stringent dioxin
emission standard and it had not caused any noticeable increase
in the ambient dioxin levels," the spokesman said.
The spokesman
said the Government was actively promoting waste reduction,
separation and recovery of recyclables from the waste stream,
including waste from households, commercial and industrial
sectors and the construction industry.
"However,
even if we can recover all the recyclable waste in our waste
stream, we will still end up with a significant quantity of
non-recyclable waste that needs to be disposed of in a safe
and environmentally sound manner.
"We will
take great care, using the latest technologies and the highest
standards, to ensure that the waste that cannot be avoided
and recycled will be handled properly to safeguard the environment
and the health of the community," he noted.
The public
will be consulted on the options before any decisions are
made.
The spokesman
reiterated that it was the government policy to manage waste
through a programme of prevention, reduction, separation and
recycling, followed by safe treatment and disposal.
The dioxin
assessment report and Professor Rappe's dioxin review report
will be available for collection from April 17 at the EPD,
28/F., Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong
Kong.
The electronic
version of the two reports can be downloaded from the EPD
website at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd.
"The
EPD will hold a seminar on Waste Management and Dioxin tomorrow
(April 18) at 9 am in the Centre of Environmental Technology
on 77 Tat Chee Avenue in Kowloon Tong.
"Green
groups and academics have been invited to attend the seminar.
The public who are interested are welcome to call the EPD
at 2872-1635 to reserve a seat," the spokesman noted.
End/Monday,
April 17, 2000
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