Settlement of Formosa-caused pollution to be reported to parliament

This is a hot-button issue, which deserves to be briefed by the Government in an independent report or as part of a general report on the socio-economic situation, NA Secretary General Nguyen Hanh Phuc said at the ongoing third session of the NA Standing Committee (NASC) on September 15. 

Many NASC members, including Chairman of the NA’s Ethnic Affairs Council Ha Ngoc Chien and Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children Phan Thanh Binh, favoured an independent report on the pollution consequences settlement, saying it matters to the public. 

Echoing the view, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the report must feature substantive and sufficient contents, adding that deputies will discuss the issue along with other socio-economic matters at the parliament’s second session. 

Operations of Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Co. Ltd resulted in mass fish deaths along the coast of the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue in April. The pollution damaged about 400 hectares of coral and affected over 260,000 people who earned their living in sea-related activities. 

This firm pledged to compensate over VND11.5 trillion (US$500 million), which will be used to support local fishermen and recover the polluted maritime environment. It also vowed to deal with shortcomings in waste and wastewater treatment. 

At the NASC’s meeting, NA Secretary General Phuc said the Standing Board of the NA’s Committee for National Defence and Security asked for a report on the East Sea situation after The Hague tribunal’s ruling issuance be part of the upcoming session’s agenda. 

Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs Nguyen Duc Hai said that report should give an overview of external relations, aside from the East Sea issue. 

The second session of the 14th parliament is scheduled to last 24 days, from October 20 to November 22. 

Deputies are set to consider approving the draft laws on associations, belief and religions, asset auction, and another that amends some articles of the Penal Code approved in 2015. They will also scrutinise 14 other draft laws.