Pig farm at Lin Fa Tei in Pat Heung, Yuen Long, convicted of illegal livestock waste discharge
The owner of a pig farm at Lin Fa Tei in Pat Heung, Yuen Long, was convicted of violating the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations by discharging improperly treated livestock waste into a nearby watercourse, and was fined $12,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (September 1). The owner concerned has previously been convicted of the same unlawful act and this is a repeated case.
During a previous surprise inspection in Yuen Long, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) staff found that brownish-yellow wastewater carrying an odour of pig manure was being discharged from the pig farm concerned into a nearby watercourse, causing serious pollution of the downstream water quality of the Kam Tin River. EPD staff immediately collected wastewater samples for analysis. Given the concealed location of the wastewater discharge point, it was difficult to determine its position by visual inspection. The EPD staff applied smart technology to assist in positioning, including using a drone for aerial detection with image analysis, with a view to confirming that the wastewater discharge originated from a plant-covered pond within the concerned pig farm. Since the analysis results of the wastewater samples indicated exceedance of the legal discharge standards, the EPD subsequently instigated prosecution against the pig farm owner involved in the case in accordance with the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations, and notified the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the case for follow-up action.
An EPD spokesman said that the department is highly concerned about illegal wastewater discharge from livestock farms along the Kam Tin River. Livestock waste without proper treatment contains high concentrations of pollutants. Its discharge into rivers not only causes serious water pollution, but also an odour nuisance. According to the abovementioned Regulations, liquid livestock waste generated by livestock farms must be properly treated to meet the statutory requirements before discharge. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and a fine of $5,000 for each day on which the offence continues. Operators and staff of livestock farms must strictly comply with the law, properly operate and maintain wastewater treatment facilities for livestock waste, and must not, for the sake of convenience, discharge untreated livestock waste into nearby rivers or water bodies. Any contravention will be subject to prosecution.
This case marks the second successful prosecution in recent times, following the EPD's announcement on August 20, 2026, of a similar conviction involving illegal discharge from a pig farm at Sheung Che in Pat Heung, Yuen Long. It reaffirms the Department's "zero-tolerance" enforcement stance against illegal discharge of livestock waste. The EPD spokesman reiterated that the Department will continue to combat any illegal wastewater discharge activity by surprise inspections, smart technology applications and interdepartmental collaboration to safeguard environmental health and river water quality.
Pig farm at Lin Fa Tei in Pat Heung, Yuen Long, convicted of illegal livestock waste discharge Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme invites new round of applications
The Main Programme under the Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) is inviting a new round of applications for project proposals starting today (September 1) from non-profit-distributing organisations such as professional bodies, trade and industrial organisations and research institutes.
PASS, with a total allocation of $200million, aims at funding non-profit-making industry-led projects to increase exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong's professional services and external counterparts, promote relevant publicity activities, and enhance the standards and external competitiveness of Hong Kong's professional services.
The maximum grant for each approved project under the Main Programme of PASS is $3million or 90per cent of the approved project cost, whichever is lower. A wide range of professional services, such as accounting, legal and dispute resolution, architecture, engineering, healthcare, information and communications technology, design and technical testing and analysis, are eligible for the Main Programme. Sector-specific projects and cross-sectoral projects are both welcome. Expenses directly incurred for implementing a project, such as manpower costs, venue and set-up costs, production and promotion costs, and the project team and active participants' travel and accommodation costs outside Hong Kong, are typically eligible for funding support under the Scheme. Funding support may also be provided for travel and accommodation costs incurred by participants in relatively longer professional internships or attachment programmes outside Hong Kong that are funded by the Main Programme.
Up to early August2026, over 130projects had been funded under the Main Programme, including project deliverables in and outside Hong Kong. The deliverables include capacity-building programmes for enhancing the standards of local professionals, such as training programmes, workshops and study tours; outreach and promotional activities for showcasing the strengths of Hong Kong's professional services, such as roadshows, promotional seminars and participation in exhibitions outside Hong Kong; exchange activities for deepening interaction between Hong Kong professionals and their external counterparts, such as visits to other economies and international conferences and seminars held in Hong Kong; and research projects on potential external markets for Hong Kong professional services and development of best practice guidelines and manuals for professionals. Details about the Main Programme and its funded projects are available at www.pass.gov.hk/main/en/home.
Furthermore, with a view to stepping up the promotion of Hong Kong's competitive edges and professional services to the Mainland and overseas markets, $50million has been set aside for the Professionals Participation Subsidy Programme (PSP) under PASS to subsidise Hong Kong major professional bodies to participate in relevant activities organised by the Government (such as Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council after the pandemic situation has stabilised. Details of the PSP and its list of activities are available at www.pass.gov.hk/psp. Hong Kong professionals from the eligible professional sectors under PASS may make use of the PSP subsidy to join the relevant activities.
The Main Programme and the PSP receive applications for project and activity proposals all year round, and they are processed on a quarterly basis. The deadline for the new round of applications is November30,2026. A briefing session will be held this month for organisations interested in applying for the PASS funding. One-on-one consultations are also available upon request for discussing preliminary project ideas or projects in the planning stage. To register for the briefing session, schedule a consultation, or for other enquiries, please contact the PASS Secretariat at 36555418 or pass@cedb.gov.hk.
Source: AI-found images
