2
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1975
ERL IS DEPLOYING A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM TO WORK ON THE ASSIGNMENT. IN RECOGNITION OF THE INTRICATE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VARIOUS FACETS OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
CONSULTANTS NOW IN HONG KONG INCLUDE MR. J.M. SIDWICK, TECHNICAL- DR. ROBIN BIDWELL, RESEARCH AND ECONOMICS- AND PROF. J.M. MCLOUGHLIN, LAW. A COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, WILLIAM FISHER, FORMER PUBLIC AFFAIRS ADVISOR IN THE ADMINISTRATION CF PRESIDENT KENNEDY, IS ALSO IN HONG KONG WITH THE ERL TEAM. HIS MISSION IS TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP INDUSTRY. COMMERCE AND THE COMMUNITY CONTINUOUSLY INFORMED ON THE TEAM'S PROGRESS, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS.
MR. SIDWICK, DR. BIDWELL AND MRS. FISHER ARE DIRECTORS OF ERL, AND PROFESSOR MCLOUGHLIN, AN ERL ASSOCIATE, IS FROM THE LAW FACULTY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER,
MRS. FISHER BELIEVES IT IS RARE TO FIND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SO HIGHLY AWARE BOTH OF THE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A HOST OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, AND THE NEED TO SECURE WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE THROUGH A PURPOSEFUL PROGRAMME OF CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION.+
THE CONSULTANTS' FIRST TASK WILL BE TO COLLECT AND EVALUATE ALL EXISTING DATA ON POLLUTION IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING EXISTING STATUTES AND REGULATIONS AND ENFORCING AGENCIES AND THEIR WORK. THE ERL TEAM WILL USE THIS DATA, PLUS PROJECTIONS OF INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL, TOURISM AND POPULATION GROWTH IN THE AREA, TO ADVISE ON THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES TO BE INCORPORATED INTO A GENERAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORDINANCE COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF POLLUTION.
+ONCE THESE DRAFT PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE SECOND PHASE WILL BEGIN WITH THE PREPARATION OF DETAILED CONTROL MEASURES INCLUDING DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR LEGISLATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTROL AUTHORITIES AND CONTROL SYSTEMS,+ MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID.
+MUCH OF OUR EXISTING POLLUTION LEGISLATION IS FRAGMENTED AND OLD FASHIONED. IT IS NOT GEARED TO CONDITIONS OF DENSE POPULATION AND TRAFFIC, THE INTENSE INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THIS AND TO BROADEN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL BASE. WITHOUT DETRIMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. CAREFULLY FORMULATED CONTROLS SHOULD BE STIPULATED IN LEGISLATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.+
ERL — ONE OF FOUR INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FIRMS INVITED TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT - WILL BE IN CONTINUOUS CONSULTATION WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, EPCOM MEMBERS AND ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING INDUSTRIAL, AGRICULTURAL, TOURISM, FINANCIAL AND SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS.
ITS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACHIEVING MINIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS THROUGH LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WILL TAKE ACCOUNT NOT ONLY OF HONG KONG'S SPECIAL SITUATION, BUT ALSO THE MEASURES AND INSTITUTIONS ADOPTED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
/+NO TWO