A Hong Kong judge yesterday gave the go-ahead for a judicial review into the dumping of landfill onto Pui O wetlands.

The core issue is the role of the Environment Protection Department (EPD) in allowing the dumping.  The EPD argued that director Annissa Wong had no choice but to let it go ahead.

The dumping has been taking place for more than year. On top of the landfill in one lot (above) the landowner has erected prefabricated huts with water and electricity supply, a septic tank, a paved terrace, outdoor seating, lighting, storage sheds and a fire pit.

The judge did not rule on the issue but determined that it required a judicial review.

The full hearing will examine aspects not considered in this application.

Specifically, the land is part of the city’s Coastal Protection Area, on which dumping is prohibited.  Access to the land could only be achieved by creating illegal access ramps. Allowing landfilling to proceed on top of previously fly-tipped material could be tantamount to enabling a criminal act.

For more background, here is the SCMP report.