MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25; 1985
4
ON PRICES, THE REPORT SAYS THAT THE RELATIVELY LOW RATE OF INFLATION WAS DUE TO A NUMBER OF DOMESTIC AND EXTERNAL FACTORS. FOR EXAMPLE, AGGREGATE DEMAND IN THE ECONOMY WAS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG, THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR, THE RATES OF INFLATIUi. IN HONG KONG'S MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS WERE MODERATE, AND WORLD COMMODITY PRICES WERE GENERALLY SOFT.
THE REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT $12 A COPY.
GUIDELINES SET OUT TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT *****
THE ENVIRONMENT OF NEW AND RE-DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN HONG KONG IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSIDERABLY IMPROVED WITH THE COMPLETION OF A REPORT SETTING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON, MR BRIAN ASHCROFT, A SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, SAID THE REPORT WAS COMPILED AS A NEW CHAPTER ON ENVIRONMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES -- THE MANUAL THAT DIRECTS DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN HONG KONG.
MR ASHCROFT SAID THE ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER WAS A SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS ENSURING A MORE RIGOROUS AND SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS IN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN HONG KONG.
+QUITE PURPOSELY, HE SAID, THE CHAPTER HAS NOT SET RIGID ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. IT HAS, HOWEVER, ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVE BENCHMARKS WHICH CAN NOW BE USED IN EVALUATING PLANNING DECISIONS AND WHICH WILL SERVE AS GOALS IN FUTURE PLANNING WORK.+
HE ADDED THAT IN THIS WAY THE CHAPTER ON ENVIRONMENT WOULD COMPLEMENT EXISTING AND INTENDED ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS.
+ IN DRAFTING THE ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER, THE AIM HAS BEEN TO EQUIP PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO FORESEE AND TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, + MR ASHCROFT SAID.
THE ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER WHICH WAS PREPARED BY A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT ENTITLED +ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING IN HONG KONG.+
A SUBSTANTIAL DOCUMENT IN ITSELF, THE ENVIRONMENT CHAPTER INCLUDES SECTIONS ON AIR AND WATER QUALITY, NOISE, WASTE MANAGEMENT, URBAN LANDSCAPE AND THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT.
FACH SECTION .....