THERE were demands for a change in the law yesterday after the Government vowed to press ahead with plans for an 18-hectare landfill site in Clearwater Bay Country Park, despite objections from legislators and environmentalists.
Legco's environmental affairs panel, which in February challenged the legality of the move, heard yesterday that laws protecting parkland did not apply to the Government.
Furthermore, a letter from Deputy Crown Solicitor, Mr William Marshall, said the Government's decision was also safe from scrutiny by a judicial review.
But the news brought an angry response from panel members.
Panel convenor Mr Peter Wong Hong-yuen attacked the Government for professing the importance of green issues, while exempting itself from laws designed to protect the environment.
Independent members Miss Christine Loh Kung-wai and Miss Emily Lau Wai-hing vowed to take action to stop the plan.
Miss Loh said: ''I would not rule out the possibility that this panel would amend the legislation. This is obviously something we need more time to study.'' Admitting the situation appeared to be a fait accompli, Miss Lau said: ''I think the Government has attempted to give us quite a categorical picture, and tell us in no uncertain terms what the state of play is, so that if we want to decide next time, we know there is nothing we can do about it.