FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1981
- 8
STIFFER PENALTIES PROPOSED FOR MARINE POLLUTION
****
TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DUMPING LITTER INTO LOCAL WATERS ARE BEING PROPOSED UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1981, PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE PENALTIES ARE TO BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT FINE OF $500 OR THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT TO A FINE OF $5 000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID EXISTING PROVISIONS HAD PROVED INADEQUATE AS A DETERRENT TO MARINE LITTERING AND IT WAS HOPED THAT THE PROPOSED STIFFER PENALTIES WOULD MORE EFFECTIVELY DETER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM DUMPING LITTER INTO THE SEA.
LAST YEAR, HE SAID, 4 351 TONNES OF REFUSE WERE COLLECTED FROM THE HARBOUR BY THE DEPARTMENT'S SCAVENGING FLEET OF 41 CARGO BOATS AND SAMPANS AT A COST OF $3.4 MILLION. THIS YEAR THE COST WOULD LIKELY RISE TO ABOUT $3.7 MILLION, HE ADDED.
UNDER THE BILL, LIABILITY WILL EXTEND NOT ONLY TO THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY COMMITS THE ACT BUT ALSO TO THE OWNER OR MASTER OF A VESSEL, OR THE OWNER OR OCCUPIER OF PREMISES FROM WHICH SUCH AN OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE MARINE LITTERING OFFENCE TO INCLUDE WASTE THAT IS DEPOSITED IN ANY PLACE FROM WHICH IT IS LIKELY TO BE SWEPT BY THE TIDE INTO HONG KONG WATERS.
WATER LEAKAGE TEST
***
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MAY 18) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE LOCATED AT QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL, FROM GARDEN ROAD TO POTTINGER STREET, AND THE SOUTH SIDE OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, FROM GARDEN ROAD TO ICE HOUSE STREET.
19