THE ENVIRONMENT
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In response to these concerns, a comprehensive and closely integrated programme for the protection of Hong Kong's environment against pollution has been developed over the past decade.
It comprises four interlocking key elements. First, environmental planning is used to avoid creating new problems for the future. Second, legislation and statutory measures ensure adherence to pollution control standards. Third, facilities and services are provided for the collection and disposal of the wastes generated by the community. Finally, investigations and monitoring, supported by consultations with the community, ensure that the rest of the programme is working in an effective and responsive way.
Overall policy responsibility for the protection of the environment rests with the Secretary for Health and Welfare. He is advised by the Environmental Pollution Advi- sory Committee (EPCOM), and supported by the Environmental Protection Depart- ment (EPD).
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The EPD was established in 1986. It carries out the work of environmental planning, implementation of most of the pollution control legislation, the development and review of waste treatment and disposal programmes and the environmental monitoring and inves- tigations needed to support policy development and review. Several other government departments contribute to the overall environmental protection programme, including the Electrical and Mechanical Services, Civil Engineering Services, Marine, Urban Services, and Regional Services Departments which operate services for the collection, treatment and disposal of wastes.
Planning against Pollution
Learning from experience where planning decisions made without considering the environ- mental implications have led to problems, the government has now incorporated environ- mental considerations as an integral part of its planning process. There are several stages at which environmental issues are addressed. In the first stage, when planning the use of land, activities which might affect each other adversely are separated as far as possible.
The advice, in the 'Environment' chapter of the official Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, guides these planning decisions. Later, when a specific development is being considered for a piece of land, its likely impact on the environment is examined in detail. Again, the ‘Environment' chapter provides the necessary guidance. A developer who follows this guidance can be confident that he will comply with all the legal requirements as well as protect the environment.
The principle of preventing future problems is continued in the formal ‘environmental review' of major public and private projects. This review is a qualitative assessment and has three purposes. The first is to identify any need for special environmental protection conditions in licence or contract documents for the project. Second, the review determines the extent of problems relating to key environmental issues. Finally, it identifies environ- mental impacts which are so complex or severe that they need a detailed and quantitative environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Government procedure requires an environmental review of each project in the Public Works Programme just before detailed design begins. During the past year, reviews of government projects have led to two full EIAS. Both were proposals for the development of strategic landfill sites for the disposal of refuse in the north-west and the north-east of the New Territories. For projects in the private sector, an environmental review is carried out by voluntary arrangement. If a full EIA is found necessary for a private project, the authorities can make it compulsory by including conditions in the land grant lease.