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THURSDAY, JUNĖ 20, 1974
UNDER THE LEASE AGREEMENT SIGNED TODAY, THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSES STRINGENT SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ANY FORMS OF POSSIBLE POLLUTION RESULTING FROM THE OPERATION OF THE PLANT.
THE TOUGHEST PENALTY GIVES THE GOVERNMENT THE POWER TO RE-ENTER THE LAND AND TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LOT WITHOUT THE PAYMENT OF ANY COMPENSATION.
THIS COULD ONLY BE DONE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IF THE COMPANY FAILED OR NEGLECTED TO OBSERVE OR COMPLY WITH ANY CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.
UNDER ANOTHER CLAUSE, THE GOVERNMENT CAN CLOSE DOWN - EITHER PARTIALLY OR FULLY - THE PRODUCTION PLANT IF IT IS FELT THAT THE HEALTH OR SAFETY OF PEOPLE IS ENDANGERED, OR DAMAGE IS CAUSED TO THE ENVIRONMENT ARISING FROM THE MANUFACTURE OF POLYSTYRENE PLASTICS OR OTHER ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS, BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE AP LEI CHAU OIL SPILL, ARE ALSO LAID DOWN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF MAJOR BULK STORAGE TANKS ON THE SITE.
THESE INCLUDE ADEQUATE SOIL INVESTIGATION BEFORE THE TANKS ARE BUILT. FOLLOWED UP WITH A CONTINUOUS CHECK ON THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TANKS ONCE THEY ARE COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED.
STRINGENT CONTROLS WILL ALSO BE IMPOSED OVER THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND THE QUALITY OF EFFLUENTS EMITTED FROM THE PLANT, DETAILS OF THE CONTROLS WILL BE LAID DOWN IN A LICENCE TO MANUFACTURE.
THE LICENCE WILL BE PREPARED BY THE CONSULTANTS AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED A TECHNICAL AUDIT FOR THE PLANT AND THIS WILL BE REVIEWED PERIODICALLY.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO IMPOSE STRINGENT CONTROLS ON ALL FUTURE POTENTIALLY POLLUTING INDUSTRIES +TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO SAFEGUARD THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+
+CONTROL BY LEASE AGREEMENT IS ONLY AN INTERIM MEASURE. IT IS INTENDED THAT FULL CONTROLS OF ALL FORMS OF INDUSTRIES WILL EVENTUALLY BE STIPULATED IN AN OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORDINANCE,+ MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID.
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