HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Well, in general details then, how many weeks?
CHAIRMAN: -I am not prepared to say, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. BERNACCHI:-How many years?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I recall the last time you said in the near future, on which many Members of this Council expressed very great concern, was in regard to the expansion of the scope of the Urban Council and I think "in the near future" at that time has dragged on into more than 18 months.
CHAIRMAN:-That is why I am not prepared to make a specific
statement.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I do appreciate your problems, and you have my sympathy.
(6) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
I have received representations from members of the public to the effect that with the approach of the summer months the smoke emission from the Kowloon incinerator could pose a pollution problem for urban Kowloon; can the Chairman make a statement as to whether this matter has been looked into previously and whether it will be kept under observation from now on?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT Committee, replied as follows:---
The emission of smoke from the Lai Chi Kok incinerator is kept continuously under observation and is a matter of review at all seasons. The plant is designed to be within. the provisions of the Clean Air Ordinance which require that the visible smoke be always better than No. 2 of the Ringlemann Chart. The approach of the summer months has a bearing on this problem in as much as the refuse which is fired may contain as much as 65% water. 27 tons of steam per hour are discharged into the air. This means that when the atmosphere is very humid the plume of steam becomes more visible. However, no pollution problem is posed by this steam and at all times levels of sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide in the gases are at a considerably lower level than those resulting from the normal combustion of fossil fuels.