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Thursday, January 17, 1974
As Secretary for the Environment, he would be receiving the
committee's recommendations and would do all he could to ensure these
were implemented.
Ir. Robson recalled that the former Advisory Committee on
Environmental Pollution on Land and Water had been instrumental in having
a comprehensive investigation carried out into the extent and causes of
stream pollution in the New Territories.
The consulting engineers appointed for that purpose had now
produced their report, and it was hoped to have printed copies in the
hands of the committee within the next two months.
"It does not make very pleasant reading," he commented, "and
much will have to be done if the situation in the New Territories is to
be contained.
Where remedial measures affecting industry had to be introduced,
he hoped that the committee would persuade the industrial federations to
put their house "or should I say factories" in order.
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"But by the same token, care will have to be taken not to go
to the extreme of recommending the imposition of impractical, stringent
conditions on existing industries which could have the effect of putting
them out of business, he added.
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"What I suggest should be the aim is to insist upon high standards
of cleanliness from new industries and plante coupled with at least primary
treatment of foul offluents emanating from existing sources.
/Commenting