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Wednesday, June 21, 1972
POLLUTION PROBLEMS OF OIL REFINERY
The Hon. K.S. Lo said today that Lamma Island should ideally be
reserved for residential and recreational use, as it was close to Hong Kong
and could be reached by ferry in less than 15 minutes.
He was speaking in an adjournment debate in the Legislative Council
on the matter of a proposed oil refinery at Lamma Island.
Mr. Lo said:
"Apart from its scenic views and abundance of beaches it has provided
a valuable ground for local archaeologists.
"It is probably the only island of any size where the future overflow
of population from Hong Kong Island itself can be contained."
For this reason Mr. Lo urged that Government should examine all the implications very carefully before deciding whether to allow an oil refinery
to be set up on Lamma Island. It was a well-known fact that the nuisance of
an oil refinery is far greater than that of any other industry.
It
Government should therefore pass all the necessary legislation for the
control of air and water pollution before it grants the licence, he said.
should also make certain that it has the practical means of enforcing those
regulations.
Mr. Lo said that the main pollution problems were caused by smell,
smoke, sulphur dioxide and liquid waste discharge.
/"All crude