Environment campaigner Greenpeace Monday urged the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to stop reclamation works at the Central waterfront.

Activists from Greenpeace China presented a petition to Sarah Liao, secretary for the environment, transport and works, drawing attention to the alleged environmental side-effects of the project.

"The dredging and dumping of contaminated mud on the seabed can cause irreparable damage to the marine environment," said Kevin May, a campaigner. They claim the toxic pollutants would be stirred up and released into the harbor.

However, the results of the dredged mud were found to be within the limits specified in a sediment-quality report, according to the Environmental Protection Department.

The government contractor is required to carry out periodic testing of the dredged mud in an accredited laboratory to compare with the findings of the report made in 2001.

Greenpeace believes that reclamation will lead to environmental deterioration and upset the natural habitat of marine organisms.

But a government study states that the harbor holds no unique habitat or ecological resources of conservation value or interest.

(China Daily November 25, 2003)