Advice to industrial undertaking-
on
pollution control
REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE TO A QUESTION BY PROF
ON C-K. POON IN THE
4. PROF. POON asked:
Will Government consider providing technical assistance and advice to industrial undertakings in the territory to help them identify ways and means of reducing the level of pollution they are producing and, if so, will such assistance be provided before the relevant legislative controls are introduced?
SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:
sir,
In the course of establishing pollution controls in Hong
Kong, it has been our experience that most industrial undertakings
take little notice of advice on pollution reduction methods in advance of the introduction of legislative controls. This is
perhaps not difficult to understand, given that industrialists wish
to avoid placing themselves at what they perceive may be a
competitive disadvantage, when there is no compulsion on their
competitors to do the same.
་་་་་་་
he
Z.
Nevertheless, before pollution control legislation is
introduced, there is always widespread consultation with industrial
does bodies and the Environmental Protection Department gives technical
advice on pollution matters. Where legislation is already in
place, specific information is supplied on air pollution abatement
measures, chimney applications, sewage, wastewater treatment and
similar matters. Formal advice is also provided to industry
through the issue of fodes of Practice, such as the recent codes on
the use of asbestos.