Press Releases and Statements
Greenpeace invited to observe testing of dredged mud
In response to media enquiries, a Government spokesman said today (October 31) that Greenpeace had been invited to observe the sampling and testing of dredged mud from the Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) project.
"We also offer to make available for their inspection the findings of the Final Sediment Quality Report 2001 which provides details of the results of tests on various contaminants of the dredged mud."
The group approached the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) last week requesting detailed information on the marine mud obtained from the CRIII project site.
The EPD has provided them with information from the Environmental Assessment Impact (EIA) report which had been published and made available to the public through the department's website at www.epd.gov.hk/eia/english/register/aeiara/all.html and CRIII website at http://www.criii-tdd.com/.
"On October 28, the group asked the Territory Development Department (TDD) to provide samples of sediments from the project for independent laboratory testing.
"The TDD invited the group to observe the sampling and testing of dredged mud but so far the group has not responded to the offer," the spokesman said.
On October 29, some members of the group boarded a dredging barge off the Central Star Ferry pier in an attempt to collect mud samples.
The Government contractor is required under the CRIII contract to carry out periodic testing of the dredged mud in an accredited laboratory to compare with the findings of the Final Sediment Quality Report 2001 prepared by our consultants, the spokesman noted.
"Results of tests on various contaminants of the dredged mud from the CRIII project were found to be within the limits specified in the Final Sediment Quality Report," the spokesman said.
The Final Sediment Quality Report 2001 contains information based on more updated sampling than those in the EIA report. There is no material difference between the findings of this report and those of the EIA report.
The spokesman also noted that the CRIII contractor had not put up any hoarding in the vicinity of Edinburgh Place.
"Works currently under way at a section of Edinburgh Place between Queen's Pier and Star Ferry Pier are being undertaken by a commercial organisation for maintenance of its pump house in the area," he added.
Ends/Friday, October 31, 2003
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