314
THE ENVIRONMENT
a 24-hour telephone service for those wishing to lodge complaints of an environmental nature. In 1988, 3 150 complaints were received and the hotline also responded to 6 400 written and telephone enquiries on environmental matters.
Legislation and Pollution Control
The Environmental Protection Department is responsible for the enforcement of the major environmental protection laws in Hong Kong.
Water Pollution
The Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) was enacted in July 1980 and brought into operation in April 1981. Thereafter, Tolo Harbour and Channel region was designated as the first Water Control Zone (WCZ) and Water Quality Objectives (WQO), based on the beneficial uses of the receiving waters, were established.
Over 300 wastewater discharges came under control in Tolo WCZ. Most industrial effluents and certain domestic wastewaters which began discharging after April 1, 1987 had to be licensed. Conditions in the licences limited the volumes of the discharges and the types and quantities of pollutants present, and also specified discharge location and treat- ment requirements. Discharges which existed before April 1, 1987, and which met certain conditions, were conferred exemptions which permitted them to continue at pre-existing levels and to increase by up to 30 per cent. EPD was responsible for issuing the licences and exemptions, and monitoring for compliance with licence conditions and exemption limits. Where discharges were in breach of the Ordinance and other pollution control require- ments, and were causing pollution, action was taken to abate the pollution. As a result of such action, the discharge of industrial wastes into stormwater drains and natural watercourses has decreased.
The Southern WCZ and its WQOS were declared, and came into effect on August 1, 1988. This zone embraces the southern parts of Hong Kong Island and Lantau and the outlying islands in the southern waters. Initially only discharges of domestic sewage within this zone will be controlled, although such discharges in existence prior to August 1, may be exempted. The immediate objective in declaring this zone was to arrest and reverse the deterioration in water quality at the popular beaches in the area, which is caused mainly by sewage pollution.
Architectural and engineering drawings of new buildings or drawings for modifications to existing works are submitted to the Buildings and Lands Department for approval under the Buildings Ordinance. Plans concerning drainage, industrial wastewater or sewage treatment are referred to the EPD for advice and these plans are vetted to ensure that industrial, commercial and residential buildings incorporate adequate facilities to drain unpolluted surface runoff to stormwater drains and polluted water to foul sewers, and to treat sewage where no sewerage system is available. Industrial effluents are required to be pretreated to safeguard the structure of the public sewers and the livelihood of workers who maintain them, and to avoid interference with sewage treatment operations. In 1988, a total of 1 200 drainage plans were vetted by the EPD.
In order to check the effectiveness of requirements laid down by the Buildings Ordinance, the EPD undertook a survey of private sewage treatment plants. The results of this survey indicated that a significant proportion of these plants were either inadequately operated (often by inexperienced staff) or were not operating at all. Further action is being taken to rectify this situation. Investigations of polluting discharges are carried out throughout the territory in response to complaints. During 1988, much of this effort was concentrated on