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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1985
THE WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED THAT NULLAHS AND STORMWATER OUTFALLS WERE A MAJOR SOURCE OF FLOATING REFUSE AND THAT OTHER SOURCES INCLUDE WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES, VESSELS, AND THE TYPHOON SHELTERS. THE ACTION PLAN THEREFORE INCLUDES PROPOSALS WHICH ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS PREVENTION OF LITTERING AT SOURCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE COLLECTION AND SCAVENGING SERVICES. IN VIEW OF THE ORIGIN OF THE FLOATING REFUSE AND THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HARBOUR CLEANSING OPERATIONS AND LAND-BASED SERVICES, THE WORKING GROUP ALSO RECOMMENDED IN PRINCIPLE THAT EXISTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARINE REFUSE COLLECTION AND SCAVENGING SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM MARINE DEPARTMENT TO CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SUBJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
AT THEIR REGULAR MEETING TODAY, EPCOM ALSO STUDIED IN DETAIL THE CURRENT EFFORTS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULA AND THROUGH EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ECOLOGY AND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROVIDED AT THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WERE ALSO REVIEWED.
MEMBERS GAVE THEIR VIEWS ON HOW STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, WHEN PREPARING THEIR TEACHING MATERIAL, COULD BE MADE MORE AWARE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, AND DISCUSSED THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL. WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED AT A LATER MEETING.
THE SUBJECT
THEY ALSO RECEIVED A QUARTERLY REPORT ON POLLUTION LEVELS AT MONITORING STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND WERE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO STRENGTHEN ITS ORGANISATION FOR POLLUTION CONTROL, WHICH THEY PREVIOUSLY ENDORSED.
DECEMBER CLOUDIER THAN USUAL
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DECEMBER 1984 WAS CLOUDIER THAN USUAL, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY
REPORTED.
THE TOTAL DURATION OF BRIGHT SUNSHINE DURING THE MONTH AMOUNTED TO 111.9 HOURS, THE EIGHTH LOWEST ON RECORD FOR DECEMBER AND WAS 67.4 HOURS BELOW NORMAL.
THE MONTH'S 10.7 MM OF RAINFALL WAS 14.6 MM BELOW NORMAL.
THE WEATHER WAS FINE ON THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN ANTICYCLONE CENTRED OVER CENTRAL CHINA. AS THE ANTICYCLONE MOVED EAST ACROSS THE EAST CHINA COAST, IT BROUGHT MOIST EASTERLY WINDS TO HONG KONG AND THE WEATHER BECAME CLOUDY WITH PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN ON DECEMBER 2 AND 3.
/ON DECEMBER