THE ENVIRONMENT
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industrial and commercial discharges had been brought under the control scheme. During 1990, 27 polluting dischargers were successfully convicted under the ordinance, and fines ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 per case were imposed.
On December 1, 1990, two more WCZs, Deep Bay and Mirs Bay, were declared, but not before a significant amendment to the WPCO had been enacted. The WPCO as it stood prior to July allowed discharges existing on the day a WCZ was declared, and which met certain conditions, to continue without a licence and to increase by up to 30 per cent. This provision had been criticised in many quarters as a licence to pollute. On July 25, 1990 the Legislative Council passed an amendment bill which removed from the WPCO the right of existing dischargers to be exempt from control, and also made provision for the existing exemptions to be phased out within two years. An associated amendment made at the same time provided for uniform effluent standards to be formally declared. The standards will set out the minimum acceptable quality for effluents discharged variously to sewers, drains, inland waters and coastal waters and will provide a firm basis upon which industrialists can plan for proper effluent treatment.
All marine dumping activities are subject to licensing control under the Dumping At Sea Act 1974 (Overseas Territories) Order 1975. Under this order, anyone who intends to dump dredged marine spoils or excavated materials unsuitable for reclamation purposes must first obtain a licence from the Director of Environmental Protection. The spoil may then be dumped in designated areas. During 1990, enforcement of the licence conditions -was tightened up with more frequent marine patrol and inspection of barge loading points.
In order to protect the marine environment from discharges of oil, noxious liquids and other waste materials from ships, Hong Kong has been complying with Marpol Convention through UK legislation, which stipulates the minimum requirements on board ocean-going and local vessels to prevent pollution discharges. A localised version of the legislation the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance – was enacted in May 1990 and will enable Hong Kong to continue to exercise the reg- ulatory controls on marine pollution and govern pollution prevention measures required on board ships.
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Waste Management
The Waste Disposal Ordinance enacted in 1980, provides the statutory framework for the management of all wastes from the place of arising to the point of final disposal. Amendments were introduced in 1987 to expand the provisions on livestock waste control and enforcement powers. Further amendment of the ordinance has been proposed to allow for the proper control and management of the collection, removal, treatment and disposal of waste.
Draft regulations made under the Waste Disposal Ordinance for the control of chem- ical wastes were also discussed with various industry groups. These regulations when implemented in late-1991 would empower the government to exercise 'cradle-to-grave' control on chemical wastes from their point of arising to the point of disposal. Under the proposed regulations all chemical wastes are required to be treated and disposed of at licensed facilities. The collection and transport of chemical waste must be carried out by licensed collectors. The regulations would also impose statutory requirements for the packaging, labelling and storage of waste, to safeguard public health and minimise risk to the environment.