WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1985
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THE HONG KONG PRINTERS' AND DYERS' ASSOCIATION LIMITED WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THE DRAFT REGULATIONS WERE IMPRACTICAL- IT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL SCHEME TO OTHER PARTS OF HONG KONG AND REQUESTED THAT THE PASSAGE OF THE DRAFT REGULATIONS BE DEFERRED.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION SUPPORTED THE DRAFT REGULATIONS AND URGED THAT THEY BE PASSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO PREVENT FURTHER DETERIORATION OF WATER QUALITY IN THE TERRITORY.
+THE AD HOC GROUP CONSIDERS THE PRESENT RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REGULATIONS DISAPPOINTING,+ DR FANG TOLD THE COUNCIL.
+WE ATTRIBUTE THE UNENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE TO THE COMPLICATED PROCEDURES AND TECHNICAL TERMS IN THE DRAFT REGULATIONS, WHICH MOST PEOPLE FIND DIFFICULT TO GRASP.
+WE ARE ALSO GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY INDUSTRIALISTS AND FACTORY OWNERS HAVE THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE REGULATIONS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO TOLO HARBOUR.+
SINCE POLLUTION CONTROL IN TOLO HARBOUR ON INDUSTRY WOULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIAL, SOME INDUSTRIALISTS DID NOT TAKE THE TROUBLE TO RESPOND WHEN CONSULTED.
DR FANG REQUESTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CARRY OUT WIDER CONSULTATION AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL BEFORE THE DEFINITIVE REGULATIONS WERE TABLED.
+SUCH CONSULTATION SHOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS BUT SHOULD INCLUDE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO SHOULD BE ASKED TO STUDY AND COMMENT ON THE DRAFT REGULATIONS, HE SAID.
+ IT SHOULD ALSO BE POINTED OUT CLEARLY THAT WHILE THE DRAFT REGULATIONS WILL ONLY APPLY TO TOLO HARBOUR AND THE CHANNEL WATER CONTROL ZONE INITIALLY, THE ONLY ZONE SO FAR DECLARED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO DECLARE WATER CONTROL ZONES IN OTHER PARTS OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
DEPENDING ON THE RESPONSE TO THE WIDER CONSULTATION UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO COMMENT FURTHER ON THE REGULATIONS AT A FUTURE DAVF, HE SAID.
DR FANG SAID HAVING SCRUTINISED THE AMENDMENT BILL AND THE DRAFT REGULATIONS MEMBERS OF THE GROUP HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE BILL ITSELF APPEARED TO BE A STRAIGHTFORWARD, TIDYING-UP EXERCISE, WHICH SOUGHT TO CLARIFY CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, AND THEY AGREED THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PROCEED.
+THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES HAS, NEVERTHELESS, EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBLE IMPACT THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL HAVE ON THE OIL INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF OIL SPILLAGE, DR FANG SAID.
+WE HAVE CONSULTED THE ADMINISTRATION WHICH CONFIRMS THAT THE AMENDMENT BILL WILL NOT HAVE ANY IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON THE OIL INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.
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