WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983
25
CALL TO PROTECT SMALL FACTOR IES
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THE HON K C CHAN SAID HE WAS ALL FOR FIGHTING AIR POLLUTION+.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, IN HONG KONG'S UNIQUE SET-UP, WE MUST PROTECT OUR INDUSTRY, OVER 95 PER CENT OF WHICH SMALL FACTORIES EMPLOYING LESS THAN 50 WORKERS EACH.
SPEAKING AT THE DEBATE ON AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL 1982
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MR CHAN SAID WE SHOULD NOT GET OURSELVES INTO THE SITUATION FACED BY SOME ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL NATIONS, WHERE DUE TO TOO HARSH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CONTROLS, A NUMBER OF ONE-INDUSTRY TOWNS HAVE TURNED INTO GHOST TOWNS.
MR CHAN, WHO SUPPORTED THE MOTION, POINTED OUT THAT CLAUSE 9 OF THE BILL, AS PUBLISHED, EMPOWERED THE ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE NOTICES OF AIR POLLUTANT NUISANCE TO OWNERS OF PREMISES TO ABATE THE NUISANCE, EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING.
+I SEE DANGER HERE, AND I SHARE MY COLLEAGUES' VIEWS THAT A WRITTEN NOTICE SHOULD BE MANDATORY.
+AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, I SHALL BE MOVING AN AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 9 TO THIS EFFECT. I AM GLAD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO THE AMENDMENT, HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT IN THE BEGINNING THE DIRECT COSTS OF CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION WOULD ONLY BE BORNE BY THE UTILITIES AND INDUSTRIES RESPONSIBLE.
BUT THE COSTS WILL ULTIMATELY BE PASSED ONTO THE LOCAL CONSUMERS, RESULTING IN HIGHER PRICES AND POSSIBLY INCREASED TAXATION. FOR OVERSEAS CONSUMERS, THIS COULD RESULT IN OUR PRICES BECOMING LESS COMPETITIVE, RESULTING IN LESS ORDERS AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT.
+IN THE LONGER TERM, WE MUST PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ELIMINATING AIR POLLUTION AT SOURCE.
+AS THIS WILL BE LEAST COSTLY, WE SHOULD SEEK COOPERATION FROM THE PUBLIC IN THE FIRST INSTANCE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO SEEK A BALANCE BETWEEN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS AND THE BENEFITS THAT CAN BE DERIVED.
+OUR OBJECTIVE SHOULD BE TO GET CLEAN AIR, WITHOUT UNDUE ECONOMIC RISKS TO OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR WHICH IS STILL THE LIFE BLOOD OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.
TURNING TO STATISTICS, MR CHAN SAID HE CAME ACROSS SOME FIGURES PRODUCED BY USA IN THE EARLY 1970S WHEN THERE WERE A LOT OF PUBLIC DEBATES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
/IT WAS