SETW's transcript on red tide and merger of two rail companies

Following is a transcript (English portion) of the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao's meet-the-media session after attending a special meeting organised by the Advisory Council on the Environment today (September 6):

Reporter: ....red tide....? Do you think the HATS scheme will help further reduce the red tide issue?

Dr Liao: Well, red tide academically is a much reserved subject because nobody really knows exactly what causes the formation of red tide. This special kind of bacteria can be formed under many circumstances. And for Hong Kong, of course, we are affected by the Pearl River Delta as a whole, and so we are monitoring it very carefully. This time it's non toxic. But still, we have to be very careful. The HATS scheme will certainly help.

Reporter: ....the precautionary measures to reduce the red tide?

Dr Liao: Of course, treating all the sewage will be one of the solutions, but on the whole, we will have to work with the Pearl River Delta.

Reporter: And also about the merger of the two rail companies, is there any progress so far?

Dr Liao: They are going to submit their reports by the middle of the month. By then, we will have some ideas as to how we put this some day. They have to comply with our parameters, which have been set out. That is the purpose of doing that report, so I will not comment any further until I receive that.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion)

Ends/Monday, September 6, 2004