Shenzhen lawmakers irate over expansion of Hong Kong dump site

A total of 262 legislators in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province had jointly signed a petition letter by Tuesday evening, calling for a solution to problems caused by garbage being dumped from nearby Hong Kong.

The campaign began on November 9, a day after a fire broke out at a waste recycling station in Ta Kwu Ling, Hong Kong, 1.5 kilometers away from Shenzhen. The stench and pollution wafted over to the mainland, haunting Shenzhen for two days.

The campaign hopes to persuade the Hong Kong government to abstain from adding 200 hectares to the current 110-hectare garbage dump in Tuen Mun district of Hong Kong, about five kilometers away from Shenzhen, Li Jichao, one of the initiators and also deputy at the Shenzhen people's congress told the Global Times Tuesday.

"We hope that Hong Kong government can stop expanding the garbage dump and apply advanced rubbish disposal technology instead of burying it," Li said. "The rubbish seriously threatens the health of Shenzhen residents."

The Shenzhen and Hong Kong governments should sit down and discuss a joint mechanism in reducing the volume and harm of garbage, legislators said.

The petition letter with 254 signatures was submitted to Lau Wong-fat, a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong on Monday, who opposes the project and will forward the letter to the council, said Li, adding that more signatures may be added before January 2014 when the council will discuss the expanding dump project.

The head of Lung Kwu Tan village in Tuen Mun district, surnamed Lau, told the Global Times Tuesday that he highly praised the petition.

"Every day, a large amount of garbage is carried to the current dump site through our village, damaging our lungs," he said.

The Hong Kong government failed to consider Shenzhen over the initial environmental evaluation, but has now agreed to set up a joint team to improve air and water quality. But Shenzhen legislators said they want to see a timetable for these promises, according to the Yangcheng Evening News on Tuesday.