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THE ENVIRONMENT
diesel engined vehicles is carried out by the police and the Transport Department under the Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations. The introduction of a fixed penalty for excessive smoke emission has improved control in this area. During the year,
49 summons were taken out for this offence with an average fine of $239, and 1 642 fixed penalty tickets were issued at $100 each.
Plans to bring into operation the Water Pollution Control Ordinance in the first water control zone of the Tolo Harbour and Channel advanced, and subsidiary legislation was almost complete by the end of the year. A mathematical model for Tolo Harbour has been developed to aid the formulation of control strategies to meet the zone's water quality objectives and to predict the effect on water quality of future reclamations in the area. Until the Water Pollution Control Ordinance becomes territory-wide, control of industrial and private sewage effluents is exercised through special conditions in land leases and through the Buildings Ordinance.
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Pending the introduction of the Noise Control Ordinance, construction noise is con- trolled under the Summary Offences Ordinance. Construction equipment to be used on public holidays, and between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. on other days, must be specifically permitted by the Engineering Development Department; 2 200 such permits were issued during the year. Noise from ventilating and air-conditioning systems is presently controlled under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance with the Urban Council the authority in the urban areas and the Director of Urban Services in the New Territories. A total of 390 complaints was received and investigated, leading to the issue of 114 abatement notices and three prosecutions.
Construction and Operation of Facilities
Over the years, the government has made major investments in facilities for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastes and this programme continued during 1983.
A major feature is the provision of sewage treatment works throughout the territory and the Engineering Development and Electrical and Mechanical Services Departments had more than 30 treatment works at various stages of consideration, planning, design and construction during 1983. The first stage of a permanent sewage treatment works at Sha Tin, and plants at Hei Ling Chau Refugee Camp and Stanley Fort were completed during the year and brought into operation, as well as a screening plant at Pillar Point for Tuen Mun New Town and an Imhoff tank with a submarine outfall for Tai O on Lantau Island. Construction work started on a submarine sewage outfall for Kwun Tong district, municipal sewage works on Cheung Chau and at Chai Wan, and a new pumping station in East Kowloon. Construction of the sewage treatment works at Shek Wu Hui, Yuen Long and Tai Po, new screening plants in Central District, and pumping stations in Mong Kok and Tuen Mun continued. A large pumping station at Ma On Shan, catering for more than 150 000 residents, was being designed.
Works have started to provide for the interception of dry weather flows to Kai Tak and Tuen Mun nullahs and this should make a useful contribution towards reducing the acute pollution problems encountered in nullahs and other slow-moving water throughout the territory. Investigations into the use of treated sewage effluent for irrigation and flushing, and the possible marine dumping of sewage sludge, were in hand during the year.
The day-to-day collection and disposal of a daily average of over 6000 tonnes of domestic, commercial and industrial wastes continued. Approximately 40 per cent of the wastes collected by the Urban Services Department and by private contractors was dealt with at the three municipal incinerators and the composting plant operated by the