MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1977
HE ELABORATED: +WHAT I HAVE IN MIND IS THAT WHEREVER THERE IS A PROPOSAL FOR A SUBSTANTIAL NEW PROJECT SUCH AS A MAJOR NEW ROAD, OR A NEW POWER STATION OR CHEMICAL COMPLEX, OR A NEW AIRPORT OR INCINERATOR AND SO ON, WE SHOULD HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT SUFFICIENT EXPERTISE AND MANPOWER TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION, ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS, TO THE OVERALL PLANNING OF THE PROJECT.+ BY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING, DR. REED CONTINUED, +1 MEAN OBTAINING DATA ON EXISTING LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT WITH A VIEW TO ASSESSING THE CURRENT OVERALL POSITION AND ESTABLISHING TRENDS.+
+ THE MONITORING IN WHICH THE UNIT WILL NEED TO BE INVOLVED WILL ALLOW US TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING POLICIES AND TO IDENTIFY AT AN EARLY STAGE THE NEED FOR NEW SAFEGUARDS AND NEW POLICIES, HE ADDED.
HE FELT THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE UNIT SHOULD HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN HONG KONG.
+FIRSTLY BECAUSE IT SHOULD ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE UNNECESSARY CONTROLS BASED ON AN UNCRITICAL ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT IS DONE IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND, SECONDLY, IT SHOULD LEAD TO AN ORDERLY AND SOUNDLY-BASED DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES, THUS PROVIDING A STABLE HORIZON FOR INDUSTRY,+ HE SAID.
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