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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
NEW LAW A REALISTIC STEP TO COMBAT POLLUTION
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THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (AIR CONTROL ZONE) (DECLARATION) ORDER 1986 SHOULD BE MOST WELCOME AS THE FIRST REALISTIC STEP TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF INDUSTRY, PROFESSOR THE HON POON CHUNG-KWONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER, PROF POON SAID THE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE DECLARATION OF THE HARBOUR AIR CONTROL ZONE AND THE TSUEN WAN KWAI CHUNG AIR CONTROL ZONE, TOGETHER WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES.
HE NOTED THAT BEFORE THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES WERE DEFINED, THERE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS. ON THE WHOLE, THERE WERE NO ADVERSE COMMENTS.
HE SAID THAT TO ACHIEVE THESE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INDUSTIRAL SECTOR.
+ IT MAY MEAN TO THE INDUSTRIES A CHANGE IN METHOD OR ROUTINE OF OPERATIONS, THE USE OF MORE EXPENSIVE FUEL AND EVEN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT,+ HE SAID.
IF NECESSARY, THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH REASONABLE AND TIMELY ASSISTANCE, AND OPERATORS OF NEW FACTORIES SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THE NECESSITY OF STRICT AIR POLLUTION CONTROL.
PROF POON ALSO SAID THAT RIGID CONTROLS ON MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS HAD TO BE IMPOSED AND OIL COMPANIES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FURTHER REDUCE THE LEVEL OF LEAD IN PETROLEUM. AT PRESENT, THE CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN PETROLEUM IN HONG KONG WAS HIGHER THAN THAT IN MOST WESTERN COUNTRIES.
+REDUCING THE LEAD LEVEL FURTHER MAY MEAN SLIGHTLY MORE EXPENSIVE OIL FOR CONSUMERS BUT THAT IS THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN+, HE SAID.
PROF POON NOTED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND THAT THE QUALITY OF AIR IN KWUN TONG WAS RATHER UNSATISFACTORY, WITH THE LEVELS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND PARTICULATE MATTER, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT NITROGEN DIOXIDE, EXCEEDING THE OBJECTIVES FOR THESE POLLUTANTS.
+I DO URGE THE GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS PIECE OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, TO CONSIDER IT ITS TOP PRIORITY TO DEVISE A FEASIBLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO RECTIFY THE UNCOMMENDABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS AT KWUN TONG AND TO STOP ANY FURTHER DETERIORATION OF AIR QUALITY IN OTHER DISTRICTS,+ HE SAID.
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