WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1936
55
DETAILED STUDY NEEDED ON NULLAH POLLUTION
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THE LONG-TERM ANSWER TO POLLUTION OF THE WONG CHUK HANG NULLAH LIES IN REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF INDUSTRIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTE ENTERING IT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON NIGEL SHIPMAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THIS WOULD INVOLVE A DETAILED STUDY OF THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION AND TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE PERSONS OR COMPANIES RESPONSIBLE, MR SHIPMAN SAID.
+ IN SOME CASES IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO DIVERT GROSSLY-POLLUTED STORMWATER DRAINS INTO THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM.+
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, MR SHIPMAN SAID THAT DOMESTIC WASTE FROM SQUATTER AREAS AND INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES CONNECTED INTO THE STORM WATER DRAINS WERE SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN THE WONG CHUK HANG NULLAH.
THE TIDAL FLOWS FROM ABERDEEN HARBOUR ALSO CARRIED POLLUTANTS AND REDUCED THE FLUSHING RATE OF THE NULLAH.
+AS A RESULT, THE NULLAH IS HEAVILY POLLUTED, PARTICULARLY AT THE MAIN TIDAL STRETCH DOWNSTREAM OF THE NAM LONG SHAN ROAD BRIDGE, HE SAID.
+ESPECIALLY IN DRY WEATHER, THE DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVEL IN THE WATER IS LOW AND AN OBNOXIOUS ODOUR EXUDES FROM THE POLLUTED MUD ON THE BED OF THE NULLAH.+
HOWEVER, A MEASURE OF IMPROVEMENT HAD BEEN NOTED SINCE WATER DISCHARGED FROM OCEAN PARK'S WATER WORLD BEGAN FLOWING THROUGH THE NULLAH.
+ IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NUISANCE, THE NULLAH IS CLEANED AND DESILTED ON A REGULAR ANNUAL BASIS, HE SAID. THIS WORK BROUGHT ONLY TEMPORARY RELIEF, AND THERE WERE NO PLANS TO UNDERTAKE IT MORE FREQUENTLY.
MR SHIPMAN SAID IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO DECK OVER OR
FILL IN THE NULLAH.
+DECK ING OVER THE NULLAH HAS BEEN CONSIDERED BUT IS NOT THOUGHT TO BE WORTHWHILE SO LONG AS INDUSTRIAL AND DOMESTIC WASTES CONTINUE TO BE DISCHARGED INTO IT. THERE WOULD BE A RISK OF TRAPPING VAPOURS AND GASES BENEATH THE DECKING, HE EXPLAINED,
FURTHER, AS THE ESTIMATED COST FOR DECKING OVER THE WHOLE OF THE NULLAH WAS ABOUT $200 MILLION, THE PROJECT WOULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED UNLESS THE ADDITIONAL LAND SPACE THUS CREATED WAS REQUIRED FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS OR FOR OTHER FACILITIES.
/+IT WOULD