Under Secretary for the Environment Christine Loh Kung-wai paid a visit to the Tseung Kwan O landfill site and a nearby housing estate on Friday, explaining to local villagers that the government will go ahead with the landfill site expansion plan.

Speaking to about 100 Tseung Kwan O residents, mostly from the large-scale private housing estate Lohas Park, about 800 meters away from the landfill, Loh said the work of expanding the landfill site by another 13 hectares will proceed.

"Frankly speaking, I think it (the expansion) is going to happen anyway," she said after listening to the residents' views for about half an hour.

Loh, who was invited for the site visit by the Sai Kung District Council, is the first top-ranking government official to visit the landfill site and tour the estate. The previous government had applied for funding to expand the city's three landfill sites but the Legislative Council in April had rejected the request.

Now, the new government intends to re-launch the expansion plan. The field visit fulfils Chief Secretary Carrie Lam's promise in July that top officials would visit Lohas Park to discuss the landfill issue.

Lohas Park residents took the visit as an important opportunity to express their views and appeal to the government. When waiting for Loh in the Lohas Park Community Hall, they agreed to maintain a polite manner and be rational. But Loh's frank statement aroused anger among some residents.

"Then why did you come here today?" someone sitting at the back of the hall shouted. Others rushed from their seats to seize the microphone to confront Loh.

Sai Kung district councilor Christine Fong Kwok-shan threatened to shave her head if the government insists that on proceeding with the expansion, despite all the objections.

The new under secretary said that she has "unfortunately" received the hot potato from the previous government. She explained that starting from now, the new government had five years to solve the city's tricky waste issue.

Loh, who explained that she has fully noted and understands the residents' views, promised to make as much improvements as she can, but didn't elaborate on her statement.

guojiaxue@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 10/27/2012 page1)