The Mainland and Hong Kong today signed two implementation schemes on cross-boundary marine dumping and disposal of construction and demolition materials.

The State Oceanic Administration's South China Sea Branch Director Li Lixin, Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Kwok Ka-keung, and Civil Engineering & Development Director Tsao Tak-kiang signed the agreements.

The "Implementation Scheme on the management of cross-boundary marine dumping" and the "Implementation Scheme on Hong Kong disposal of inert construction and demolition materials in the Mainland" stipulates technical details for disposing of the materials in Mainland waters.

As reclamation projects dwindle in Hong Kong, there is less need for locally generated construction and demolition materials to be reused in reclamation works. To keep such materials from occupying precious landfill space, they are now stored in temporary fill banks in Tuen Mun and Tseung Kwan O.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Kwok said the temporary fill banks would be saturated by the end of this year.

"The signing of the implementation schemes is significant in solving the imminent problem to handle the inert construction and demolition materials which could not be reused in local reclamation works," he noted.

Materials transfer to Mainland could begin this year

The Hong Kong government expects the transfer of construction and demolition materials to the Mainland for reclamation purposes could begin this year.

The State Oceanic Administration and the Environment, Transport & Works Bureau signed a Cooperation Agreement on Cross-boundary Marine Dumping on March 31, 2004.

It laid the foundation for close cooperation and communication on issues concerning the management principles of cross-boundary marine dumping and disposing of Hong Kong's construction and demolition materials in Mainland waters.