Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 14) said that, through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration, it has successfully tackled an illegal waste disposal blackspot on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun, significantly improving environmental and hygienic conditions. Over 50 prosecutions were instituted during the operation.
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Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Yick Yuen Road in Tuen Mun is situated in a remote rural area, surrounded by villages and brownfields. Following the commencement of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area project, residents in the vicinity of Yick Yuen Road had gradually relocated. The EPD had identified illegal waste disposal at a concealed and remote roadside spot on Yick Yuen Road since mid-last year. The situation has grown increasingly severe, adversely affecting environmental hygiene.
The EPD promptly co-ordinated with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Highways Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Lands Department to jointly work out an action plan. A series of interdepartmental collaborative measures were implemented, including setting up a smart surveillance system to detect illegal activities, swiftly clearing waste to prevent the deterioration of hygiene conditions, as well as placing concrete barriers and warning signage to deter further violations. During the initial phase of the operation (from June to August 2025), the EPD utilised the smart surveillance system to quickly identify vehicles transporting waste for illegal disposal at the site and prosecuted the registered owners of the relevant vehicles. Among these, several small-scale works or transport companies were found to be involved in repeated illegal dumping of large quantities of waste and demolition materials. These prompt prosecutions had a significant deterrent effect, resulting in a substantial reduction in violations in the subsequent months.
An EPD spokesman said, "The department has been concerned about the rural areas of the New Territories, especially some public places such as remote roadsides or laybys, which are easily becoming illegal waste disposal sites. The waste deposited at this site, including some large-sized commercial and industrial (C&I) waste, not only created obstruction to pathways but also caused environmental hygiene problems. The EPD will continue to combine technology-driven enforcement with interdepartmental collaboration in its commitment to improving the living environment."
The spokesman appealed to all sectors, especially members of the logistics and construction industries, to properly dispose of waste in accordance with the laws. The logistics sector and the C&I sector may contact recyclers to collect C&I waste with reusable or recycling value, while non-recyclable waste should be delivered to refuse transfer stations or landfills.
According to the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Chapter 132BK), it is an offence to dispose of waste on streets or in public places from vehicles, including goods vehicles, private cars and motorcycles. The registered vehicle owners concerned may be prosecuted. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Blackspot for illegal waste disposal on Yick Yuen Road, Tuen Mun successfully tackled through smart enforcement and interdepartmental collaboration Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Speech by SJ at opening ceremony of second edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course - Company Law in Focus today (January 14):
Distinguished judges, ladies and gentlemen,
A very good morning. Welcome to the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course - Company Law in Focus, co-organised by the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. First, I would like to sincerely thank all of you for travelling to Hong Kong to take part in this course.
As you may know, the first edition of the Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course, which was held in January last year, was the inaugural programme of the Academy. It was a resounding success that sparked meaningful exchanges between Hong Kong's common law experts and eminent judges like yourselves from the Chinese Mainland. I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Supreme People's Court for their trust and continued support, which have made this second edition of the course possible.
Building on the success of last year's training course and in consultation with the Supreme People's Court, we have refined and enhanced this edition to ensure an even more targeted and impactful experience for our participants. This year's course features four notable highlights. The first is the impressive breadth of our participants. We are very delighted to have 24 distinguished senior judges from 22 courts across the Chinese Mainland, including judges from the Supreme People's Court, and judges from 12 provinces and three direct-administered municipalities. This remarkable diversity brings together a wealth of regional insights and perspectives that will undoubtedly enrich our exchanges.
The second highlight is our dedicated focus on company law. In recent years, with the rapid development and growing complexity of business activities, cross-border company-related disputes have accounted for a significant portion of civil and commercial cases before the Chinese Mainland courts. The 2023 revision of the Company Law in the Chinese Mainland, effective from July 1, 2024, introduced important reforms in corporate governance, shareholder rights, and liquidation, drawing keen interest from judges, lawyers and businesses. As a leading international financial centre and premier business hub, Hong Kong has established a robust company law framework well suited to addressing modern challenges and has ample experience in dealing with various complex company law issues. This course offers an excellent opportunity for us to learn from each other, through practical, in-depth exploration of key areas of Hong Kong company law under the common law framework and dialogues between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland company law experts. Over the week, through lectures, dialogue sessions, interactive practices and visits, we will delve into important topics such as company structures, guarantees, and liquidation, with particular emphasis on their practical application.
The third highlight of this year's course is an exceptional lineup of moderators and speakers, comprising some of Hong Kong's most respected and experienced legal experts in the field of company law. Among them are distinguished legal scholars and experts, as well as eminent judges, all bringing with them a wealth of practical knowledge and experience in company law and Hong Kong common law system. We are deeply grateful for their generous support and contributions, which have made this course a reality and will undoubtedly make it an enlightening and rewarding experience for all participants.
The fourth highlight is that apart from the classroom experience, this course also offers valuable opportunities to experience Hong Kong's legal institutions and bodies in action, with visits to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, the High Court of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Legal Hub, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and notably, one of the newest international organisations in Hong Kong or even in the world, namely the International Organization for Mediation. Participants will also attend the Ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year 2026, which will be held next Monday, where the Chief Justice, myself, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong deliver keynote speeches focusing on upholding the rule of law amidst evolving challenges. This important annual event stands as a cornerstone of our common law tradition, where the pillars of Hong Kong's legal system gather to reflect on the past year and chart the course for future judicial directions. In addition, we have arranged cultural and exchange visits, where participants can experience Hong Kong's unique blend of heritage and modern vibrancy.
This course is a key initiative to implement the national policy of strengthening Chinese Mainland judges' ability to handle foreign-related cases, which we believe, will align closely with the priorities anticipated in the 15th Five-Year Plan to be announced in March this year. We hope that by the conclusion of this course, you will have gained a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Hong Kong common law, in particular company law, enabling you to navigate cross-border disputes and to draw practical parallels with the ongoing reforms in the Chinese Mainland with greater confidence. We also hope that the comparative insights and shared experiences gained throughout this course will help further refine your approaches to case handling and enhance your ability to resolve complex commercial cases in today's increasingly interconnected economy.
This course aims to foster meaningful exchanges and mutual learning, rather than one-way presentations from our speakers. As experienced judges, your perspectives and insights will undoubtedly inspire meaningful dialogue and provide valuable learning opportunities for both our speakers and fellow participants. We therefore strongly encourage you to actively share your thoughts, engage in discussions, and raise any questions that arise from your own judicial experience or areas of interest. Your active participation will be key to making this course a truly enriching and meaningful experience for everyone involved.
Alongside the training course, I encourage you to take some time over the week to discover the many facets of Hong Kong - from an international legal and dispute resolution centre, to its dynamic culture and stunning scenery. I am confident that these experiences will make your stay here all the more fulfilling, memorable and inspiring.
Before closing, allow me to briefly introduce the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy. Launched in November 2024, the Academy, in collaboration with over 20 international organisations, national or local authorities and professional bodies, has organised more than 12 capacity-building training programmes in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, other parts of Asia, Europe, Latin America and beyond. The Academy will continue to make good use of Hong Kong's bilingual common law system and international status, to serve as a capacity-building, as well as a knowledge and experience-sharing platform for legal professionals in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and other jurisdictions, in particular those along the Belt and Road. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your support to the Academy, and I look forward to exploring further opportunities for collaborations with the Supreme People's Court in the near future.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for your valuable participation. I wish you all a very rewarding learning experience and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.
Speech by SJ at opening ceremony of second edition of Hong Kong Common Law Practical Training Course Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
