Kwai Chung Incineration Plant (Chinese

Chinese language

The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...

: 葵涌焚化爐) was one of four incineration

Incineration

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...

 plants in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

. It was on the reclaimed land

Land reclamation in Hong Kong

Land is in short supply in Hong Kong, and land reclamation has been conducted there since the mid-19th century.-Projects:One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction...

 of Gin Drinkers Bay

Gin Drinkers Bay

Gin Drinkers Bay or Gin Drinker's Bay is also known as Lap Sap Wan . It was a bay in Kwai Chung, Hong Kong....

, Kwai Chung

Kwai Chung

Kwai Chung is a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong. Together with Tsing Yi Island, it is part of the Kwai Tsing District of Hong Kong. Kwai Chung is the site of the container port. It is also part of Tsuen Wan New Town. In 2000, it had a population of 287,000...

, near Tsing Chau

Tsing Chau

Tsing Chau or Pillar Island was an island in the Kwai Chung area of Hong Kong, sitting on the mouth of Gin Drinker's Bay, by the side of Rambler Channel, opposite to Tsing Yi Island....

 and Rambler Channel

Rambler Channel

Rambler Channel is a body of water in Hong Kong that separates Tsing Yi Island from mainland Kowloon Peninsula, namely Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung in the New Territories...

.

The plant was opened in 1978 to process solid waste from Hong Kong.

Cessation of operation

In 1989, the Hong Kong Government issued a White Paper

White paper

A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...

, Pollution in Hong Kong - A Time to Act. After considering the effects of air pollution

Air pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....

 on the environment and public health, it decided to cease using incineration

Incineration

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...

 to dispose of solid waste. This decision was later suspended and, as of 2008, the Hong Kong Government is considering constructing new incinerators.

In May 1997, Kwai Chung Incineration Plant ceased to operate, following Lai Chi Kok Incinerator Plant (1991), Kennedy Town Incineration Plant (1993) and Mui Wo Incineration Plant (1994).

Demolition

Although the plant ceased operation in 1997, it was not completely demolished then. The site was found to be contaminated with dioxin, furan

Furan

Furan is a heterocyclic organic compound, consisting of a five-membered aromatic ring with four carbon atoms and one oxygen. The class of compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans....

, asbestos

Asbestos

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...

, heavy metals

Heavy metals

A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...

 and petroleum hydrocarbon. Special procedures are required during demolition.

Demolition of the building

Building

In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...

 and 150 meter (492 feet) high chimney

Chimney

A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...

was initiated in 2007.