Fill Supply and Mud Disposal

The Fill Management Committee (FMC), formed in 1989, is responsible
for identifying, investigating and managing fill resources and marine
disposal areas required for developments in the HKSAR. Technical and
administrative support for the FMC is provided by the FMC Secretariat,
which is housed in the GEO of the Civil Engineering Department (CED).

From 1990 to 1997, about 260 million cubic metres of marine fill
(15 per cent from nearby regions in China) and 160 million cubic metres
of land-based fill were used for reclamation projects. It is expected that
a further 400 million cubic metres of fill will be required to meet the need
for land for housing and infrastructure developments in Hong Kong over
the next 10 years.

The CED managed the mud disposal facilities. During the year, about
12 million cubic metres of uncontaminated mud generated from various
projects were disposed of in open sea floor disposal grounds and in
exhausted marine sand borrow pits; about 13 million cubic metres of
contaminated mud were placed in the purpose-dredged seabed pits at East
Sha Chau. An empty marine sand borrow pit in East Sha Chau for
contained disposal of contaminated mud came into operation in late-1997.

The Public Filling Sub-Committee of the FMC co-ordinated the public
filling activities for beneficial use of construction and demolition debris.
During the year, about 4.4 million cubic metres of pubic fill were used in
reclamations.

In connection with the management of Hong Kong's fill resources and
mud disposal capacity, the CED, on behalf of the FMC, continued to
undertake a series of geotechnical, environmental and ecological studies to
examine the effects of the dredging and disposal activities, and to
investigate possible ways to avoid or minimise adverse effects on the
marine environment.

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