THURSDAY, NOVEMLER 20, 1975
CONSULTANTS' REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
******
·
SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF HONG KONG'S MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS WILL REQUIRE A +PLANNED AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TAKING ACCOUNT OF A WIDE VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS.+
THIS OBJECTIVE IS STRESSED THROUGHOUT THE FIRST INTERIM REPORT OF THE CONSULTANTS APPOINTED TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
THE REPORT BY ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES LIMITED, LONDON, IS BASED ON A YEAR-LONG. ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND CONTAINS OUTLINE RECOMMENDATIONS COVERING WATER, NOISE, AIR AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION.
THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ERL, MRS. FLORENCE FISHER, SAID TODAY HER FIRM BELIEVES THE OBJECTIVES CAN BEST BE MET THROUGH THE CREATION OF A CENTRAL CONTROL AUTHORITY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL AND ASSISTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICERS IN THESE FOUR KEY FIELDS.
SHE SAID THAT HONG KONG'S LEGISLATION RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND POLLUTION CONTROL HAS GROWN UP PIECEMEAL OVER A PERIOD OF MANY YEARS.
+LIKE THAT OF MOST HIGHLY POPULATED INDUSTRIAL CENTRES, HONG KONG'S REGULATIONS HAVE NOT KEPT ABREAST OF THE CHANGING NATURE OF INDUSTRY, NOR OF THE CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL AND AMENITY SITING. THE INEVITABLE RESULTS ARE THAT SOME OF THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE UNSATISFACTORY AND OFTEN IN CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER.+
THEREFORE, MRS. FISHER SAID, THE CONSULTANTS PROPOSED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A SINGLE, INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORDINANCE WITH SECTIONS ON AIR, WATER, NOISE, SOLID WASTE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF LAND-USE PLANNING.
+OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY ERL, THOSE RELATING TO THE CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT AND THE REPLACEMENT OF HONG KONG'S PATCHWORK OF ANTI-POLLUTION REGULATIONS WITH A SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE ARE AMONG THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL, + MRS. FISHER ADDED.
THE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND THE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF DISCHARGE INTO INLAND AND COASTAL WATERS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMME OF NOISE REDUCTION INCREASED MONITORING OF AIR POLLUTION- STRICTER CONTROLS OVER WASTE DISPOSAL AND EXAMINATION OF POSSIBLE WASTE REDUCTION THROUGH RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING= THE INCORPORATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES INTO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED NEW TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE AS A MEANS OF RESOLVING OFTEN CONFLICTING DEMANDS FROM INDUSTRY TOUR ISM, RECREATION, AGRICULTURE, HOUSING AND WATER SUPPLY.
AND
/COMMENTING