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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
FACTORIES IN NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS :
NGS: GOV'T WINS SUPPORT ******
LEGISLATION THAT GENERALLY PROHIBITS THE SETTING UP OF FACTORIES IN NEW NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO AGREED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S PHASED PROGRAMME TO REMOVE ALL DANGEROUS AND OBNOXIOUS FACTORIES FROM EXISTING NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. EXCEPT WHERE THE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR SAFETY IS INTOLERABLE, THIS PROGRAMME ALLOWS FOR A GRACE PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS FOR SUCH UNDERTAKINGS TO FIND SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE PREMISES.
SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIALS IN THE COUNCIL TODAY, THE HON. JAMES WU SAID THAT FOR INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WHICH WERE NEITHER DANGEROUS NOR OBNOXIOUS, THE UNOFFICIALS CONSIDERED THAT NO ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN UNTIL THE OVERALL PROBLEM HAD BEEN FULLY IDENTIFIED AND THEY HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONCERNED,
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE A SIMPLE GLOSSARY OF THE DEFINITIONS AND TERMS USED IN THE LEGISLATION, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.
MR. WU SAID THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT INCURRED A COST, THERE IS LITTLE WISDOM TO GO FOR EXTREMES OR ABSOLUTISM AT COSTS THAT WE CAN ILL-AFFORD.+
+THE LOGICAL AND EXPEDIENT SOLUTION WOULD THEREFORE HAYE TO WEIGH THE GAINS OF PROTECTION AGAINST THE COST, BEARING IN HIND THE OVERALL PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE NEED TO WIN PUBLIC UNDERSTAND I NG IF NOT AUSPICES.
+GOVERNMENT IS TO BE CONGRATULATED ON FOLLOWING THIS APPROACH, +
HE SAID.
MR, WU POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD BEEN SPARED THE MORE SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEMS, CONSIDERING ITS FANTASTIC INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, AS THE ACTIVITIES HERE WERE MAINLY LIGHT INDUSTRIES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE RISKS AND EFFECTS OF FIRE AND ANY POLLUTION WERE VERY MUCH MAGNIFIED DUE TO CONGESTION AND PROXIMITY OF FACTORIES TO RESIDENTIAL PREMISES.
+GİVEN IMAGINATION, ENTERPRISE AND CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I FEEL SURE THAT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG WILL BE FORTHCOMING, HE SAID.
/THE HON. HILTON