MORE VIEWS SOUGHT ON WATER POLLUTION MEASURES
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INDUSTRIALISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL ISTS AND ANY INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WERE URGED AGAIN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (GENERAL) REGULATIONS.
THE CONTROL REGULATIONS WERE PUBLISHED IN DRAFT FORM ON MAY 31 FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.
HOWEVER, AS WAS POINTED OUT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, ONLY THREE REPRESENTATIONS HAD BEEN RECEIVED, FROM THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND THE HONG KONG PRINTERS AND DYERS ASSOCIATION LTD, WHO HAD RESERVATIONS, AND THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION, WHO WERE IN SUPPORT.
THE UMELCO LEGCO AD HOC GROUP CONVENED BY DR HARRY FANG TO STUDY THE REGULATIONS SAID THAT THIS RESPONSE WAS DISAPPOINTING. THE GROUP LEARNED THAT SOME INDUSTRIALISTS AND FACTORY OWNERS WERE UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT THE REGULATIONS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO TOLO HARBOUR AND HAD NOT THEREFORE TAKEN THE TROUBLE TO RESPOND WHEN CONSULTED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY REITERATED THAT THE REGULATIONS WERE TO BE MADE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WHICH PROVIDES FOR REGULATIONS TO APPLY INSIDE WATER CONTROL ZONES WHICH MAY BE DECLARED IN ANY PART OF HONG KONG.
+WATER CONTROL ZONES CAN ONLY BE DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL AND. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT AT PRESENT ONLY ONE SUCH ZONE HAS BEEN DECLARED, NAMELY THE TOLO HARBOUR AND CHANNEL WATER CONTROL ZONE, IT IS THE INTENTION TO PROPOSE THE DECLARATION OF MORE ZES IN OTHER PARTS OF HONG KONG. BUT THIS WOULD ONLY BE DONE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND AFFECTED INDUSTRIES. IN ANY EVENT. IT WILL NOT BE JUNE UNTIL THE EXPERIENCE OF OPERATING AND ADMINISTERING THE FIRST AT.. CONTROL ZONE HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY EVALUATED, HE SAID.
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THE TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES BEING PRESCRIBED FOR CONTROL INSIDE THE TOLD HARBOUR AND CHANNEL WATER CONTROL ZONE COULD ALSO BE PRESCRIBED FOR OTHER ZONES IN FUTURE AND THE REGULATIONS COULD HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
+BUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NO LESS AFFECTED BECAUSE THE PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO STOP ANY FURTHER DETERIORATION IN THE QUALITY OF A VERY LARGE PART OF OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO AGREE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS WORTH TRYING TO PRESERVE. THEIR PRESENCE DOES NUT MAKE ITSELF FELT VERY STRONGLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.