Ng Yuk-hang
Oct 11, 2010
Oct 11, 2010
The interests of the majority should override that of the minority, Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen said as more than 100 Tseung Kwan O residents protested against the extension of a landfill for the third consecutive Sunday yesterday.
Tang said in an interview with the Information Services Department that the government should lead the public in reaching a consensus.
"When dealing with issues like columbariums and landfills, most people do not want these facilities to be placed near them. But the government has the responsibility to look at issues on the whole. The interest of the majority should override that of the minority. The public should know when to compromise in order to benefit the whole society," he said.
His interview was put on the government news website yesterday, a day before the Legislative Council was to receive independent legal advice on the power of lawmakers to repeal the chief executive's order to extend the Tseung Kwan O landfill into Clear Water Bay Country Park.
Legco president Tsang Yok-sing is then to decide if he should allow legislators to vote on Wednesday on a motion proposed by the Civic Party's Tanya Chan to scrap the order.
Undersecretary for the environment Dr Kitty Poon Kit said yesterday that she would try to urge lawmakers to vote against the motion.
In the past three weeks, residents of Tseung Kwan O have taken to the streets to vent their opposition to the extension of the landfill. Some demanded its immediate closure.
More than 100 residents marched from Wan Po Road to Hang Hau MTR station yesterday.
One protester said she bought a flat in Tseung Kwan O hoping that the landfill would be closed in a few years. "Now it may continue to operate for another 10 years."
Another protester said the landfill had brought mosquitoes and bad smells.
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