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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1975
COMMENTING ON THE CONSULTANTS' FINDINGS SO FAR, MRS. FISHER SAID THAT HONG KONG'S POLLUTION PROBLEMS ARE LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO UNTREATED WASTES DISCHARGED INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WASTES FROM VARIOUS NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
THE SITUATION, SHE SAID, HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY GROWTH IN INDUSTRY AND POPULATION, INCLUDING GROWTH IN TOURISM.
MRS. FISHER ADDED THAT THE FIRST REPORT HAS BEEN DIRECTED TOWARDS PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS. THIS SHOULD PROVIDE A BASIS FOR DECIDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESOURCES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE AND HOW THESE COULD BE USED MOST EFFECTIVELY.
IT SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK WHICH WILL ENABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING TO BECOME A FLEXIBLE AND CONTINUOUS PROCESS, RESPONSIVE TO CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, NEW KNOWLEDGE IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND HUMAN ASPIRATIONS TOWARDS A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE NEXT PHASE OF ERL'S WORK, TO BE COMPLETED IN 1976, WILL INVOLVE PREPARATION OF MORE DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS ON CONTROL AUTHORITIES AND SYSTEMS, DRAFTING OF SPECIFIC PROPOSED LAWS AND REGULATIONS, ASSISTANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT IN INFORMING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME, AND ADVISING ON THE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT IT.
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