WEDNESDAY,
MBER 23, 1983
11
+GANGES WATER NOT PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT+
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THE WATER QUALITY OF THE STREAM FEEDING THE PUMPHOUSE ON THE RIVER GANGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AS FAR AS ABSTRACTION FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IS CONCERNED, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHAN, REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM MR S.L. CHEN, SAID THE RIVER GANGES PUMPING STATION WAS PLANNED FOR THE ABSTRACTION OF FLOOD FLOWS IN THE RIVER GANGES TO AUGMENT OTHER WATER RESOURCES IN HONG KONG.
+A WATER QUALITY SURVEY CARRIED OUT PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME SHOWED THAT THE QUALITY OF WATER WAS SUITABLE FOR ABSTRACTION DURING PERIODS OF FLOOD FLOWS, MR CHAN TOLD THE COUNCIL.
+WHEN THE FIRST HEAVY SUMMER RAINSTORM OCCURS,+ HE ADDED, THE WATER IN THE RIVER GANGES IS ALLOWED TO RUN DOWNSTREAM TO EFFECT FLUSHING, AND FLOOD PUMPING ONLY COMMENCES WHEN WATER QUALITY IS ACCEPTABLE, HE SAID.
THE WATER WAS PUMPED TO PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AND WAS DILUTED IN THIS LARGE BODY OF WATER PRIOR TO TREATMENT AT THE TREATMENT WORKS. THE FINAL WATER FROM THE TREATMENT WORKS WAS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL BEFORE IT WAS SUPPLIED TO CONSUMERS.
+THE QUALITY OF SUPPLY CONFORMS IN ALL RESPECTS, BOTH CHEMICALLY AND BACTERIOLOGICALLY, TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, + MR CHAN STATED.
CROSS-BETTING IS AN ENTERTAINMENT
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SIR JOHN
DOUBTS ON WHETHER A CROSS-BETTING MEETING WAS A RACE MEETING WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF ENTERTAINMENT UNDER THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX ORDINANCE WERE CONFIRMED ON LEGAL ADVICE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983, SIR JOHN SAID ADMISSION TO CROSS BETTINGS AND RACE MEETINGS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY AND THE AMENDMENT WAS AIMED AT REMOVING ANY DOUBT.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE CURRENT RACING SEASON, ENTERTAINMENT TAX IS NOT BEING COLLECTED ON PAYMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO CROSS-BETTING MEETINGS PENDING THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMENDMENT BILL,
/+THIS BILL