Press Release
Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground officially opened
 The Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, which is the first permanent recreational facility built on a restored landfill in Hong Kong, was officially opened today (October 2).
Apart from providing the first standard baseball field in Hong Kong, the venue also has other recreational facilities and a number of green features.
Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, said landfills after restoration could be developed into beneficial uses such as providing recreational venues for the public.
As for the existing three strategic landfills in Hong Kong, Dr Liao said they would be filled up in seven to 11 years in view of the current waste generation rate.
She urged the public to reduce, reuse and recycle waste so as to minimise the amount of waste that required disposal.
Dr Liao pointed out that it was difficult to find suitable locations for building new landfills. For waste that cannot be recycled, new technologies for processing and disposal, in addition to landfilling, have to be explored.
She said the Government would consult the public on waste treatment technologies that could meet the sustainable waste management principle.
Talking about the Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground, Dr Liao said it was built on the restored Sai Tso Wan Landfill with an area of 2.7 hectares.
Located on Sin Fat Road near Lam Tin MTR Station, the recreation ground comprises a multi-purpose grass pitch for soccer and baseball, two batting cages for practising baseball, a children's play area, a jogging track and ancillary facilities.
The grass pitch provides a standard baseball field for the National Squad training of the Hong Kong Baseball Association.
To ensure the site is safe for public use, pollution control facilities have been installed to prevent environmental pollution.
Some green features have also been incorporated in the design of the recreation ground.
For example, rubber soil is used as sub-base material underneath the paving blocks. Rubber soil is a new lightweight and porous construction material produced from rubber chips derived from waste rubber tyres and cementitious materials.
The paving blocks on the footpaths are made from construction waste and waste glass.
Rubber mats used in the children's play area and the jogging track are made from rubber chips derived from scrap tyres.
Other green features include a demonstration wind turbine and solar panels.
Electricity generated from the wind turbine is used for a street light in the recreation ground while that from the solar panels is used for the fluorescent lights in the reception area and the exhaust fans of a store room.
There is also an environmental gallery in the recreation ground to display information on waste management in Hong Kong.
Other officiating guests at today's ceremony included the Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Robert Kwok, the Chairman of the Kwun Tong District Council Mr Chan Chung-bun and the Deputy Director of Leisure and Culture Services, Mr Siu Yu-bun.
End/Saturday, October 2, 2004
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