WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980
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THE SECRETARY HAD ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRM INTENTION TO IMPLEMENT THE BILL IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO MINIMISE INCONVENIENCE AND COST TO INDUSTRY AND THE ECONOMY GENERALLY.
MR WONG HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD, WHEN DRAWING UP REGULATIONS, ADHERE TO THIS POLICY GUIDANCE.
IN REPLY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES, AGAIN EMPHASISED THERE WOULD BE CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES IN THE COURSE OF PREPARING THE DRAFT REGULATIONS AND THAT ANY POINTS THEY MADE WHICH WERE UNRESOLVED WOULD BE DRAWN TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
+1 HAVE ALSO INDICATED THAT THE LIKELY ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF ALL DRAFT REGULATIONS WILL BE ASSESSED BY THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH,+ HE SAID.
MR JONES SAID HE HAS GIVEN AN ASSURANCE THAT REGULATIONS WOULD NOT BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT UNTIL AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE SO AS TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR THOSE CONCERNED TO ASSESS THEIR EFFECTS.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE PROVISIONS FOR A VERY EXTENSIVE APPEALS PROCEDURE.
+WITH ALL THESE PROVISIONS FOR CONSULTATIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND APPEALS I CAN HARDLY SEE HOW I MERIT MISS DUNN'S ACCUSATION OF WANTING TO RUSH THINGS. BUT SHE DOES MAKE THE POINT THAT, AND I QUOTE HER, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT DID NOT FEEL ABLE TO EXTEND THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD ALLOWED FOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE REGULATIONS.+
HE SAID THE REASON WHY HE DID NOT FEEL ABLE TO MEET MISS DUNN ON THIS PARTICULAR POINT WAS THAT HE DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DO So.
SHOULD, HOWEYER, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS GENERALLY FELT THAT THIS PROVISION SHOULD BE RE-EXAMINED, HE SAID THAT NO DOUBT IT WOULD BE LOOKED AT,
+BUT IT WOULD INVOLVE BROADER ISSUES THAN THIS PARTICULAR BILL, HE ADDED.
FINALLY, HE SAID HE WAS ALREADY IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ICAC ON PROCEDURES THAT MIGHT BE INTRODUCED TO MINIMISE CORRUPTION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MEASURES PROVIDED FOR IN THE BILL AND IN OTHER ITEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION.
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