THE ENVIRONMENT
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the Chinese Manufacturers' Association - and a representative of an environmental group, the Conservancy Association.
During the year, EPCOM considered a wide variety of subjects including the overall strategy for sewage treatment and disposal, beach water pollution, floating refuse, agricultural waste control, handling and disposal of asbestos wastes, air pollution due to motor vehicle emissions, asbestos levels in ambient air, the new 'Environment' chapter in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, the government's organisation for pollu- tion control, and environmental education. Also, it examined draft regulations under the ordinances on water pollution and air pollution control in line with the statutory requirement of these ordinances that EPCOM be consulted on any proposed regulations, environmental quality objectives and standards.
In December, EPCOM, together with the Hong Kong Institute of Engineers, sponsored an international conference on pollution in the metropolitan and urban environment. The conference, called POLMET, was opened by the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, and participants considered the policies, programmes and solutions needed to deal with problems created by the ever expanding metropolitan and urban pollution in the Asia- Pacific region. Some of the world's leading policy makers, managers and experts in the various specialised areas of environmental protection attended the conference and many of them delivered papers.
To facilitate public participation at the district level in controlling pollution and improving the environment, seminars on environmental policy and planning were organ- ised by the government during the year for district board members.
An important aspect of consultation and collaboration on environmental matters is the liaison established with the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau and the Shenzhen authorities. A collaborative study between the Hong Kong Government and the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau has been carried out to monitor the air and water quality in Deep Bay and to develop emission inventories for the area. Government departments involved include the EPA, Labour Department, Royal Observatory, Engineer- ing Development Department, and New Territories Development Department.
Conservation and Countryside Management
Hong Kong's hilly topography has ensured the survival of a relatively large expanse of countryside, much of which is scenically very attractive. Steep and rugged slopes rise from sea-level to 600 and 900 metres and feature rocky crags, wooded ravines with rushing streams, and open hillsides. Some 20 freshwater reservoirs of various sizes nestle among the hills, giving additional charm to the scenery.
About 75 per cent of Hong Kong's land area consists of hills and the vegetation on them includes grass, scrub and about 125 square kilometres of woodland - much of it the result of afforestation programmes. The woodlands not only make the countryside more beautiful but also are important in the management of water catchments.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Department is the principal government agency responsi- ble for conserving the territory's countryside. The Country Parks Ordinance, which came into effect in 1976, provides for the designation, control and management of the most important areas of countryside as country parks, and enables them to be developed for recreational purposes. It also gives particular protection to vegetation and wildlife.
The department also has the responsibility for protecting the flora and fauna through- out Hong Kong. The Forests and Countryside Ordinance provides for the general protection and management of vegetation, and special protection is given to certain