Martin Li

    martin.mouse@163.com

    LOCAL lawmakers and social activists called on residents over the weekend to sign a document protesting Hong Kong’s plan to expand its Tuen Mun landfill, which lies across the water from Nanshan District.

    “I didn’t know that Hong Kong’s landfill and waste treatment facilities were located on the border with Shenzhen until last month’s fire in a waste treatment station in Hong Kong sent bad smells into Luohu, Futian and Nanshan districts. It hurt people’s health,” said Shenzhen resident Han Xintong, who signed the proposal. “Hong Kong’s government should attach more importance to waste treatment and at least listen to opinions of Shenzhen residents.”

    Yang Qin, a deputy to the city’s legislature, joined other lawmakers and activists to collect residents’ signatures yesterday at public places including Lianhua Hill Park in Futian.

    “Hong Kong released a statement several days ago that said the location of the landfill expansion would not be decided by consulting other areas, which obviously include Shenzhen. The statement turned a deaf ear to Shenzhen’s voice,” Yang said.

    “Residents and nongovernmental organizations in Shenzhen should send public opinions to Hong Kong’s government through multiple channels, to catch their attention and affect their decision on the expansion’s location.”

    Yan said signatures will be collected on upcoming weekends, as well.

    “Peoples’ signatures will be given to members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council,” Yang said.

    One hundred Shenzhen lawmakers, including Yang, signed a joint letter last month calling for the governments of Shenzhen and Hong Kong to implement active measures to control the spread and impacts of trash-related pollution from Hong Kong. The letter has been submitted to Shenzhen’s legislature.

    “I have been involved in many environmental protection activities. We have to voice our opinions. Shenzhen and Hong Kong should be environmentally friendly,” said a resident surnamed Zhang, who signed the protest over the weekend.

    Following last month’s odor-emitting trash fire, Shenzhen lawmakers have called for the establishment of a joint investigation team to evaluate the incident’s environmental impacts.

    Hong Kong is currently using three landfills to handle 52 percent of the garbage produced in the city. The three landfills are expected to be filled to capacity within two to six years, according to a previous local SZTV report that cited Hong Kong’s environmental department.

    Shenzhen lawmakers consider landfilling the most underdeveloped and irresponsible way to treat garbage, calling it harmful to future generations.