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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. DANIEL TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, if waste is to be sorted, recycled and reused effectively, a systematic survey and analysis of waste is necessary. It would help us in our future planning and preparation work.
Analysis has been applied to market research in the commercial sector. Data so collected is used to analyse the consumption patterns and the use of products of different brands. If the Council intends to conduct a similar survey, previous experience of the commercial sector can be taken for reference.
About 20 months ago at the monthly meeting of this Council on 10 October 1995, a motion to categorise refuse, recycle and reuse waste was carried. I will read out the resolution to refresh your memory.
Resolved that this Council urge the Government to implement a policy of categorizing waste for recycling purpose so as to put into effect the concept of environmental protection and at the same time the Urban Services Department should study the specific operational measures to keep pace with the implementation of this policy."
Twenty months later, we are still in the same position and we have not done much. I think the Council should be more pro-active in lending support to the recycling and reuse of waste. I think we must now do some ground work.
It is necessary and it is an urgent task to analyse waste and to study into methods to recycle and reuse material with economic value.
Concerning the second survey mentioned in the document on public attitude towards waste sorting and recycling, I think it should be conducted after completion of the first survey. If not, there will be a problem with the order of things. To save time, I would not say too much. I would like to have adequate data and scientific analysis in hand when we go about implementing the policy. I urge Members to support the Department in speeding things up so that the agreed policy may be implemented steadfastly and our green awareness be raised. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. FRANCIS TANG CHI-HO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have prepared a speech but most of the points have been gone through by Members. So, I will not repeat them. We support in principle the motion moved by Mr. CHAN Choi-hi of the Democratic Party. As a matter of fact, many colleagues have pointed out that to reduce waste, the most important thing is for the people of Hong Kong to cut the generation of waste from the source.
Concerning surveys, as mentioned by Mr. Mok Ying-fan, the Environmental Protection Department has been conducting them for more than a year. If no action is taken on the basis of results of surveys, they become pointless. As pointed out by Mr. Daniel To, a motion on environmental
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