Letters to the Editor, PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 26 August, 2015, 5:10pm
The decision to build an incinerator in Hong Kong has presented a challenge to the government.
It has had to put a lot of effort into trying to persuade citizens, especially nearby residents, that they will not be adversely affected by it.
There is no doubt that over the last decade the government has tried hard to solve Hong Kong’s waste problem.
When a waste reduction strategy is decided on, it is important to look at the short-term and long-term consequences of any policies.
With an incinerator the chief concerns are environmental, such as air pollution and concentrated chemical waste byproducts. There are worries not just about people’s health, but the possibly devastating effect on biodiversity.
However, incineration is better than building more landfills, which are not sustainable. The government has found itself in a Catch-22 situation when it comes to the incinerator. It is always difficult to strike the right balance. What is important is that all Hongkongers should cooperate with the government to try and reduce the volumes of waste generated. We have to think about our children, so we cannot be indifferent.
Yoyo Tang Wing-tung, Kwun Tong