WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987
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'THE ESTIMATED COST FOR TAXPAYERS OF THESE SCHEMES IS ABOUT $255 MILLION, AND I THINK NO ONE CAN ACCUSE THE GOVERNMENT OF BEING UNGENEROUS IN ITS TREATMENT OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE NEW PROPOSALS."
MR CHAMBERS NOTED THE HON PETER C. WONG HAD ASKED WHETHER A FARMER WHO HAD RECEIVED A LOAN AND THEN FOUND THAT HE COULD NOT ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED STANDARD, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION,
"THIS QUESTION CAN BE DISCUSSED, HUT I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL APPROVED THE GRANT SCHEME ON THE BASIS OF AN ONCE-FOR-ALL OPTION TO TAKE EITHER A GRANT OR COMPENSATION, HE SAID.
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COMMENTING ON CONCERN THAT THE CONTROL AUTHORITY WAS GIVEN THE POWER TO SEIZE LIVESTOCK SUSPECTED OF BEING KEPT IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL, MR CHAMBERS SAID: "THIS POWER IS NECESSARY AS A DETERRENT TO PREVENT BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE AND TO DETER REPEATED OFFENDERS.
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IT WILL HOWEVER, BE USED WITH CAUTION AND ONLY TN VERY SERIOUS POLLUTION WHICH HAVE TO BE STOPPED AS SOON AS IF ADDED.
CONTROLS
CASES OF POSSIBLE,"
WHO WERE
HE ALSO SAID FARMERS WHOSE LIVESTOCK WAS SEIZED, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY NOT CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE UNDER THE BILL, WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THE DISTRICT COURT OR HIGH COURT FOR COMPENSATION FOR ANY LOSS ARISING OUT OF THE SEIZURE.
MR CHAMBERS SAID HE WOULD ALSO BE MOVING A COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT TO THE BILL TO BRING FORWARD MUI WO BEACH AND ANGLER'S BEACH INTO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CONTROL PROGRAMME.
"THESE TWO POPULAR REACHES HAVE BOTH BEEN DECLARED NOT SUITABLE FOR SWIMMING AS A RESULT OF SERIOUS POLLUTION DUE LARGELY TO ANIMAL WASTE, AND IT IS DESIRABLE THAT EARLY ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITION, HE SAID,
MR CHAMBERS SAID IT WAS NOT THE ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION ΤΟ DRIVE LIVESTOCK-KEEPERS OUT OF BUSINESS, PROVIDED THEY OBSERVED REASONABLE STANDARDS OF POLLUTION CONTROL. HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE OR ACCEPTABLE TO BAN LIVESTOCK FARMING COMPLETELY THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, EVEN THIS MIGHT PROVE A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRESENT PROPOSALS.
IF
HE ALSO SAID STAFF OF HIS BRANCH AND OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT LON DEPARTMENT HAD MET WITH THE FARMERS' REPRESENTATIVES ON 15 OCCASIONS DURING THE PREPARATION OR THIS LEGISLATION. AND THI DISCUSSIONS WOULD CONTINUE.
"IN ADDITION ROTH THE ENVIRONMENTAL, PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUK TO PROVIDE FARMERS WITH TECHNICAL ADV TCK
HELP THEM MEET THE REQUIRED STANDARDS.
זין
HOC GROUP
"WE SHALL ALSO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE AD AND I SHARE MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG'S CONFIDENCE THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE то FIND SATISFACTORY SOLUTIONS TO THE OUTSTANDING PROBLEMS RELATED ΤΟ THIS BILL AND ITS SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
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