3.
- 2 -
As regards Dr. Fang's comments on the draft
Water Pollution Control (General) Regulations, I would
like to reiterate what I said when proposing the Second
Reading of the Bill on 12 June that extensive consultations
were conducted with industrial organisations and individual
firms which would be affected by the Regulations.
However
in view of the Ad Hoc Group's comments I propose to arrange
for further publicity to be given to the proposals to
ensure that there is no doubt in the minds of those likely
to be affected about what is intended both in the Tolo area
and elsewhere.
4.
With reference to Dr. Fang's request for a
further report to this Council, I shall need to take
advice on the most appropriate means of achieving this.
5.
The state of the rivers and marine waters of
the New Territories, as I explained in my answer to a
recent question in this Council gives rise to a great deal
of concern, and it is important that early action should
be taken to improve the situation. I would like to assure
Members however that the Government is conscious of the
need to weigh very carefully the economic consequences of
pollution control measures and accepts that a balanced
approach is necessary. I believe that the draft Regulations
meet this requirement.
6.
Sir, I beg to move.