THE ENVIRONMENT
In 1992 there was a review of the livestock waste control scheme, including the legislative provisions. It is proposed that a revised scheme would be introduced, the main elements of which will be licensing of all livestock farms, subject to compliance with pollution controls; the regulations will be made easier to enforce and maximum fines will be raised; and the ban on livestock keeping will be extended.
Ozone -- a global responsibility
To control ozone depleting substances, fulfilling Hong Kong's obligation as a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance was enacted in 1989. This ordinance prohibits local manufacturing of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and bromofluorocarbons (halons), and it restricts the import and export of these substances through licensing and quota controls. In 1992, there were two prosecutions under the ordinance, with fines ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.
Following the second meeting of the parties to the Montreal Protocol in June 1990, the control of ozone depleting substances has been extended in 1993 to 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride and 10 other fully halogenated CFCs and the ordinance will be amended accordingly.
As a requirement of the Montreal Protocol, imports of products containing CFCs and halons, such as air conditioning equipment and portable fire extinguishers, from non- party countries will be prohibited starting from May 1993. Subsidiary legislation will be introduced to effect the controls.
Subsidiary legislation banning the venting of CFCs into the atmosphere during the decommissioning or servicing of air conditioning or refrigeration units is also in pre- paration. While this set of regulations aims to minimise the emission of CFCs into the atmosphere, reducing demand for virgin materials, it will also encourage recovery and recycling within Hong Kong industries in order to cope with the phasing out programme.
Neighbourhood noise
Noise from domestic premises and public places is commonly known as neighbourhood noise. The police carry out enforcement on noise. During 1992, the police dealt with 352 complaints and prosecuted 12 cases.
Provision of Facilities and Services
Every day, Hong Kong produces two million tonnes of sewage and 7900 tonnes of municipal solid wastes. The government has adopted detailed strategies to deal with these challenges. The sewage strategy requires improved sewage collection facilities under sewerage master plans and a system of deep tunnels and treatment works to treat and dispose of the sewage from the urban area.
During 1992, detailed site investigation and engineering studies continued for the strategic sewage disposal scheme. This will collect the sewage from urban Kowloon and the north and south-west areas of Hong Kong Island for treatment and final disposal via a deep tunnelled outfall into the oceanic currents south of Hong Kong. Continued work on developing and implementing sewerage master plans made good progress during 1992.
Domestic, commercial and industrial wastes, collectively referred to as municipal solid waste, is forecast to increase by 3.2 per cent annually over the next 14 years. By the year 2006 some 12 300 tonnes of municipal solid waste will require collection and disposal each
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