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CAMBODIAN OFFICIALS IN TAIPEI OVER WASTE

China News

TAIPEI, Taiwan, 5 February 1999 -- Three Cambodian government officials arrived in Taipei last night to negotiate with the Formosa Plastic Group (FPG) regarding shipping of and compensation for the mercury- contaminated waste dumped by the company in Cambodia. In November 1998, FPG dumped 3,000 tons of the waste in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The incident soon raised international concern as well as local awareness on waste disposal.

After various tests by environmental groups and Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), the waste was proven to exceed the toxicity limit. FPG had agreed to ship the waste to the United States or Europe for further processing. So far, the delegation, sent by Cambodian President Hun Sen, represents the highest-level government officials involved in the waste negotiations. It is comprised of Hun Sen's adviser Om Yim Tieng, Environmental Protection Bureau Chief Heng Nareth and So Suvuth, the director of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Figures. They will meet with FPG's managing director, Lee Chi-tsun, to negotiate details of the arrangements. According to sources, the Cambodian government has formed a seven-member committee to handle the matter, and Hun Sen has assigned Om Yim Tieng to be its chairman. Its mission includes requesting compensation from the Taiwanese government.

The money reportedly will be used to fund Sihanoukville's environmental protection and welfare.

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