J
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1982
TOLO CHANNEL SUBZONE
(AS FOR TOLO BUFFER SUBZONE AND IN ADDITION):
*
MAINTENANCE OF SUPPLY OF FLUSHING DILUTION WATER FOR INNER SUBZONES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID REGULATIONS WERE BEING PREPARED TO IMPLEMENT A LICENSING SCHEME UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON A DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, TO ENSURE THAT THE OBJECTIVES WERE ATTAINED.
THE GOVERNOR WOULD DESIGNATE A FIRST APPOINTED-DAY FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF DISCHARGE OR DEPOSIT. FROM THAT DAY" ALL NEW DISCHARGES OR DEPOSITS WOULD HAVE TO BE LICENSED, EMITTERS IN EXISTENCE PRIOR TO THAT DAY WOULD QUALIFY FOR AN EXEMPTION TO CONTINUE TO DISCHARGE, BUT SUCH EXEMPTIONS MIGHT BE WITHDRAWN IF THEY CONSTITUTED A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR TO THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM. FROM A SECOND DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, EACH NON-EXEMPT OR UNLICENSED DISCHARGE OF THE TYPES SPECIFIED WOULD CONSTITUTE AN OFFENCE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID INDUSTRIAL EMISSIONS IN TOLO AT PRESENT WERE NOT PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL POLLUTION LOAD, AND THE EXISTING PROBLEMS WERE LOCALISED,
+THE IMPACT UPON INDUSTRY OF MEASURES AIMED AT ACHIEVING WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES IN TOLO IS THEREFORE NOT LIKELY TO BE GREAT, HE ADDED,
+EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS WILL IN ANY EVENT HAVE EXEMPTION PROVIDED THEY DO NOT GIVE RISE TO A HAZARD TO HEALTH AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO CURRENT PRACTICES WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.+
DOMESTIC AND AGRICULTURAL WASTE DISCHARGES WERE OF PARTICULAR CONCERN AT PRESENT. THEY COULD CURRENTLY CAUSE WATER QUALITY TO BE WORSE THAN THE OBJECTIVES IN SOME PARTS OF THE CONTROL ZONE.
ACTION AIMED AT IMPROVING THE SITUATION INCLUDED THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS AT SHA TIN AND TAI PO AND THE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF CONTROLS ON AGRICULTURAL WASTE UNDER THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE.
A PILOT SCHEME FOR THE COLLECTION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE WAS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED SOON.
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