Following is a question by the Hon Fred Li Wah-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (November 19):
Question:
Regarding the cremation service for pets, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows the existing number of private operators providing cremation service for pets;
(b) of the number of complaints received by the authorities over the past three years about the environmental problems caused by pet cremators installed in multi-storey industrial/commercial buildings, the details of the complaints and how the authorities handle such complaints; and
(c) whether it will consider regulating the pet cremation industry through licensing to ensure that the operation of the industry complies with the requirements of the legislation on fire safety and environmental protection?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Government does not know the number of private organizations currently providing cremation services for pets.
(b) Regarding environmental problems caused by pet cremators located in multi-storey industrial/commercial buildings, the Government had received two complaints over the past three years. Both of the complaints were about odour emitted by a pet cremator located in an industrial building. They were lodged by the same complainant. After receiving the complaints, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) had conducted a number of site investigations, but could not find any environmental problems caused by the cremator. Nevertheless, the operator of the facility had improved the operation of the cremator to reduce the possible impact on the people in its neighbourhood. EPD has been monitoring the cremator closely and will take appropriate enforcement action if environmental problems are found.
(c) Under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the operation of a pet cremator (and any other cremators) of an installed capacity exceeding 0.5 tonne per hour is a "specified process". The owner of the cremator has to apply for and obtain a specified process licence from EPD before he is allowed to operate the cremator.
Moreover, under the Air Pollution Control (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations, for a pet cremator (and any other cremators) of an installed capacity not high enough to be classified as a specified process, if it consumes more than -
(i) 25 litres of conventional liquid fuel per hour; or
(ii) 35 kilograms of conventional solid fuel per hour; or
(iii) 1 150 mega joules of any gaseous fuel per hour.
Its owner has to submit the plans and specifications of the cremator to EPD for approval not less than 28 days prior to its installation, and should only install and operate the cremator after the plans and specifications have been approved.
Even for a cremator of a small capacity, if it causes any air pollution problems to its neighbourhood, EPD can issue air pollution abatement notices to its owner under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. Any person who does not comply with the air pollution abatement notices commits an offence.
Under the Dangerous Goods Ordinance, if the amount of Category 5 dangerous goods used or stored in any premises providing pet cremation services exceeds the exempted amount prescribed in the Ordinance, the owner of the premises has to apply to the Fire Services Department for a dangerous goods licence.
In the case of the pet cremator mentioned above which was the subject of complaint, neither its installed capacity, total fuel consumption nor the amount of dangerous goods used or stored in the premises where it is located is of such a level prescribed in the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the Air Pollution Control (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations and the Dangerous Goods Ordinance as requiring its owner to seek and obtain the prior approval from the relevant authorities. The owner of the cremator is therefore not required to apply for a licence or prior approval.
We consider the existing legislation adequate for controlling effectively pet cremation services for the purposes of preventing them from causing an impact on the environment or the safety of residents in their neigbourhood.
Ends/Wednesday, November 19, 2003
NNNN