Question No.5
REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. YEUNG PO-KWAN, CPM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 1985
Question:
Will the Government make a statement on water quality in Hong Kong waters with particular regard to areas frequented by sea bathers?
Sir,
It is a sure sign that summer has arrived
when a question on water quality at our beaches is asked
in this Council. This is quite right and proper, when we
consider that each summer more than 20 million visits are
made to our beaches.
2.
In general the quality of Hong Kong's marine
waters is satisfactory, but this is not to deny that there
are problem areas. Deep Bay, despite its name, is shallow
and moderately polluted. The limited tidal flushing in the
Bay cannot cope fully with the heavy pollutant loads from the
New Territories and from Shenzhen. On the eastern side of
the New Territories, Tolo Harbour, Port Shelter, Hebe Haven
and Junk Bay especially Tolo Harbour are polluted inshore
and have deteriorated seriously from their natural condition.
-
-
3.
Rather surprisingly, so far as water quality is
concerned, most of Victoria Harbour is still considered, by
and large, to be in a satisfactory condition despite the
heavy load it has to bear. In general the Harbour is well
flushed by tides and currents, but its condition is, of course,
only satisfactory if it is accepted that in no way can it be
/classified
...