2
MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1979
THE FINAL REPORT IS NOW COMPLETED AND HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE LAST TWO MEETINGS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM).
SITED NEXT TO THE MASSIVE KESCO POWER STATION BEING BUILT AT TAP SHEK KOK, THE CEMENT PLANT IS EXPECTED TO USE A VERY HIGH PROPORTION OF THE PULVERISED FUEL ASH PRODUCED BY THE POWER STATION.
THE ASH, ONE OF THE INEVITABLE BY-PRODUCTS OF THE CONVENTIONAL COAL FIRED POWER STATION, HAS BEEN OF SOME CONCERN TO BOTH KESCO AND THE GOVERNMENT IN THAT ITS DISPOSAL IS RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE AND PRESENTS CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
TRACTOR PLOUGHING SERVICE REHABILITATES
FALLOW LAND IN KT *****
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S TRACTOR PLOUGHING SERVICE HAS PROVED TO BE VERY POPULAR AMONG FARMERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,
+THE SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1977 ON A TRIAL BASIS TO HELP FARMERS REOPEN ABANDONED OR FALLOW LAND, THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CROP DEVELOPMENT UNIT, MRS. VERA LEE SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
+OVER 14 HECTARES OF LAND HAVE SO FRA BEEN CULTIVATED BY TRACTOR PLOUGHING, SHE ADDED.
TO COPE WITH INCREASING DEMAND, MRS. LEE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO PROVIDE TRACTOR PLOUGHING AS A REGULAR SERVICE TO FARMERS. A NEW TRACTOR HAD RECENTLY BEEN ACQUIRED AND PUT INTO SERVICE.
THE COST OF THE NEW TRACTOR AND ACCESSORIES, WHICH AMOUNTED TO $100 000, WAS MET BY FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION,
THE POWERFUL TRACTOR IS CAPABLE OF PLOUGHING DEEPER INTO THE SOIL THAN THE HAND-DRIVEN CULTIVATOR COMMONLY USED BY FARMERS.
+THIS WILL HELP MAINTAIN PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LAND AND ENSURE GOOD YIELDS,+ SHE SAID.
MRS. LEE SAID THAT A SURVEY UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT HAD SHOWN THAT SOME 3 600 HECTARES OF FERTILE LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD HAD TO LAY FALLOW AS A RESULT OF AN ACUTE SHORTAGE IN AGRICULTURAL LABOUR.
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRACTOR PLOUGHING SERVICE, ABOUT HALF OF THESE LAND CAN BE REHABILITATED, SHE SAID.
TRACTOR PLOUGHING