VINESDAY, August 8, 1984
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IN THEIR MEETING TODAY, EPCOM MEMBERS STUDIED REPORTS ON POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND ON THE QUALITY OF WATER MONITORED IN VICTORIA HARBOUR. THEY WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN WATERCOURSE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT, EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEEP BAY AND DETAILS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR DREDGING SEDIMENTS FROM THE KOWLOON BAY TYPHOON SHELTER.
THEY NOTED A PAPER ON THE GOVERNMENT'S INTERNAL ORGANISATION FOR THE TASK OF POLLUTION CONTROL, AT THE TOP OF THIS ORGANISATION IS A HIGH LEVEL POLLUTION CONTROL POLICY COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE AND ATTENDED BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS. IT IS REQUIRED, UNDER THE FIRST OF ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE, TO OVERSEE, COORDINATE AND ENSURE PROGRESS ON THE POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMME.
MEMBERS CONFIRMED THE VIEW OF THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE THAT, WHILE IT WOULD BE RECEIVING REPORTS ON THE RESULTS OF BACKGROUND RADIATION MONITORING IN HONG KONG, IT WAS NOT EPCOM'S BUSINESS TO MONITOR OR APPRAISE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT DAYA BAY IN CHINA.
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MEETING HELD WITH CONTAINER TRACTOR OWNERS, DRIVERS
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A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT OFFICIALS MET YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF CONTAINER TRACTOR OWNERS AND DRIVERS.
THE INCREASE IN THE LICENCE FEE FOR TRAILERS WAS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE FEE HAD NOT BEEN REVIEWED SINCE TRAILERS WERE FIRST INTRODUCED
INTO HONG KONG IN THE LATE 1960'S AND THAT THE SCALE OF THE INCREASE WAS LOWER THAN INCREASES IN LICENCE FEES FOR OTHER TYPES OF GOODS VEHICLES OVER THE SAME PERIOD. THE REPRESENTATIVES NEVERTHELESS REQUESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO PHASE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW FEE OR TO REDUCE THE RATE OF INCREASE. OFFICIALS UNDERTOOK TO REVIEW TO GIVE A REPLY TO THE REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE AUGUST 14.
THE NEW PARKING REGULATION THAT REQUIRES TRAILERS TO BE PARKED IN PARKING PLACES DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE UNLESS ATTACHED TO A TRACTOR WAS ALSO DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW REGULATION WAS TO PREVENT UNATTACHED TRAILERS BEING PARKED INDISCRIMINATELY ON THE ROAD IN SUCH A WAY AS TO CAUSE SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION OR DANGER TO OTHER ROAD USERS. THE POL ICE CAN BE RELIED UPON TO USE THE IR COMMON SENSE TO ENFORCE THE NEW REGULATION.
THE REPRESENTATIVES RAISED THE IR CONCERN ABOUT THE GENERAL SHORTAGE OF LEGAL PARKING SPACES FOR CONTAINER VEHICLES. THEY WERE ASSURED THAT THE GOVERNMENT APPRECIATED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD BE CONTINUING ALL ITS EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF PARKING SPACES BY MAKING VACANT CROWN LAND AVAILABLE FOR THIS PURPOSE. IT WAS STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT BECAUSE OF THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF LAND AND COMPETING DEMANDS ON IT, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED QUICKLY,
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