SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1985,
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WORK REVIEWED
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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED PROGRESSIVELY OVER THE PAST EIGHT TO NINE YEARS IN HONG KONG COVERS AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, NOISE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.
ACCORDING TO ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 1985, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S ANNUAL REVIEW PUBLISHED RECENTLY, THE PROGRAMME COVERS THE FOLLOWING SIX MAIN ELEMENTS -
+ LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE LEGAL POWERS TO CONTROL THE
EMISSION OF POLLUTANTS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT;
+ PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AIMED AT
AVOIDING PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE FROM NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW INDUSTRIAL INSTALLATIONS;
+ A PROGRAMME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF
COMMUNITY WASTE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL FACILITIES SUCH AS SEWAGE WORKS, CONTROLLED TIPS AND INCINERATORS:
+ A PROGRAMME OF POLLUTION MEASUREMENTS TO CHECK ON THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING CONTROLS AND IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR NEW MEASURES:
+ AN ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK TO MAKE THE VARIOUS PARTS
OF THE PROGRAMME OPERATE EFFECTIVELY AND
+ ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATION, USUALLY THROUGH ADVISORY COMMITTEES, BOTH WITH THOSE SECTORS OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY EXISTING MEASURES AND NEW PROPOSALS, AND WITH THE COMMUNITY.
LEGISLATION CAN SERVE TWO PURPOSES IN CONTROLLING POLLUTION, ACCORDING TO THE REVIEW.
ONE IS TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN SIMPLE AND ROUTINE STEPS ARE TAKEN IN ADVANCE TO AVOID EXCESSIVE POLLUTION BY, FOR EXAMPLE, REQUIRING THE INSTALLATION OF FILTERS TO REMOVE PARTICLES FROM COMBUSTION GASES FROM A BOILER.
THE OTHER ROLE OF LEGISLATION IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUNISHMENT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, OF THOSE WHO CAUSE EXCESSIVE POLLUTION.
SO FAR, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORDINANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED INCLUDED THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE, THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.
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