THE ENVIRONMENT
It is, however, estimated that about 500 000 tonnes of waste paper, used lubricating oil, metals, plastic scrap and glass were reprocessed locally in 1991.
The government continued to encourage waste separation at source which will facilitate recycling activities and reduce the demand for scarce landfill space. A study on the recycling of construction waste was completed in October 1991 and initial trials for sorting and reprocessing construction waste are being planned at selected disposal sites.
Air Quality
The EPD has established a fixed network of continuous monitoring stations to measure ambient air quality throughout the territory. The measurements made at the 11 stations are telemetered to the central computer for processing and reporting. The information is used for assessing the general state of compliance with the Air Quality Objectives, monitoring long-term trends in air quality and assisting in planning future developments in the territory.
During 1991, a new station was set up in Mong Kok at ground level to measure air pollution from motor vehicles. Relatively higher levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulates were recorded at this station.
The general levels of sulphur dioxide recorded have reduced dramatically compared with previous years. There were, however, only small reductions in the recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulates, which remained high at some monitoring stations.
The significant reduction in sulphur dioxide concentrations was due to the implemen- tation of the Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations in July 1990. Measure- ments at some residential flats close to the industrial area in Kwai Chung revealed that reduction in sulphur dioxide levels was as much as 80 per cent.
A Mobile Stack Emission Monitoring Laboratory was acquired and commissioned in July 1990 for use in checking compliance with the emission standards imposed on major air polluters such as power plants, incinerators, gas production plants and cement plants. The sampling results showed that, generally, the emissions from these polluters were within acceptable limits. The enforcement work is further facilitated by the development of a com- puterised Enforcement Management System. A territory-wide survey of the combustion sources was completed to provide timely emission information to the enforcement teams.
Noise Control
Due to the scarcity of land, roads required to cater for increasing traffic have to go through densely-populated and congested metropolitan areas, affecting large numbers of people in their vicinity. For existing roads, it is proposed to resurface 14 road sections in the territory with a special quiet surfacing material, which would benefit about 11 000 households. So far, three sections of the Island Eastern Corridor and two road sections in West Kowloon have been completed at a total cost of $10 million. The remaining sections are programmed for resurfacing in the next two years at an estimated cost of $40 million.
In the case of new roads, barriers or road covers are used as far as practicable, whenever they are found to be effective. In the design of these screening structures, both noise reduction capability and aesthetic appearance are of prime concern. Landscaped and translucent barriers which blend in with the neighbouring environment will continue to be widely used. The first translucent road covers were completed in July 1991, at a cost of $68 million, for the Tate's Cairn Tunnel approach roads.
363