w
2
of this increasing pressure we have been successful in
some areas in not only preventing deterioration but
achieving improvements. For example, despite an increase
10 years, of 65 in fossil fuel consumption over the last decade,
careful environmental management has led to a 50 decrease
in the concentration of sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere.
per cent
per cen
بتر
I should point out also that the Environmental
Protection Department was established as recently as April
last year. The pepartment's establishment has
+
nowincreased significantly, but much of this increase
represents a transfer of functions from other parts of the
Government, and over the past few years the average annual
increase in the total number of staff employed on
environmental control duties has only been about 7. In
addition, recruitment of suitably qualified staff has not
proved easy. Moreover, many of the regulations have only
been made during the last two years, and some of them are
not yet in full operation. In a situation like this, we
cannot really expect immediate dramatic changes, but we
should begin to see steady improvements in the near
future, and the deterioration of the environment, which is
the result of many years of relative neglect, should be
reversed; but it will not be quick or easy.
A.
se k
.
Professor POON and Richard LAI stressed the
importance of proper environmental planning. We do
l
سلام
ee