39
-
Wednesday, March 29, 1972
"I cannot say how much is being dumped by selfish and unscrupulous
farm and factory managers or thoughtless individuals into streams when nobody
is looking, but we are hoping for some interesting new information to emerge
from the surveys we plan to set up this summer with the help of students
dedicated to the war on pollution."
Mr. Alexander said his department also accepted the responsibility
of clearing streems provided adequate resources were made available.
But, he said the practical task of cleaning 300 or more streams
regularly was quite formidable, particularly at a time when unskilled labour
in large numbers was not available.
Open Sewers
He explained that the majority of those streams had been converted
into open severe by the uncontrolled squatters who now infested most of the
areas.
"Cleaning up alone will not put an end to the problem, as long as
streams are still acting as entry points for all wastes from the activities
of squatter structures, industries and whatnots along their banks.'
A need existed for all existing streams to be dredged and trained
and reverted to their original state, he stressed.
In their place, local sewerage systems and collection centres
capable of dealing with all kinds of waste products, including refuse and
nightsoil, should be provided.
"The pollution in the New Territories is horrible compared with the
past, although, as far as I am aware, the general health of the rural
population is so much better than it was," he said,
/His ability