7
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1987
"THE AREA WAS ORIGINALLY ZONED FOR INDUSTRY,
BUT WAS REZONED IN 1981 AS RESIDENTIAL. REDEVELOPMENT HAS, HOWEVER, BREN PIRCEMEAL, WITH THE RESULT THAT NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CO-EXISTS WITH OLD INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. THIS HAS GIVEN RISE TO COMPLAINTS BY THE TSUEN TAK GARDEN RESIDENTS OF BOTH NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION.
"IN THE LONGER TERM, REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SURROUNDING AREA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXISTING LAND-USE ZONING SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. IN THE INTERIM, ALL COMPLAINTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE EXISTING FACTORIES HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE то BE INVESTIGATED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION TAKEN WHERE APPROPRIATE," MR ASPREY ADDED.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES PLANNED AGAINST PNEUMOCONIOSIS
THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WOULD RESULT IN LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE WORKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT IT WOULD ENABLE THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO UNDERTAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST THE DISEASE.
THE BOARD, ESTABLISHED IN 1980 UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, WAS EMPOWERED TO PAY COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF THE DISEASE OR THEIR DEPENDANTS, OUT OF A FUND FINANCED A LEVY ON CONSTRUCTION WORKS AND ON QUARRY PRODUCTS.
BY
"BUT IT IS NOT AT PRESENT AUTHORISED То USB ITS FUNDS ON MEASURES TO PREVENT PNEUMOCONIOSIS, SUCH AS RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF THE DISEASE AND MEASURES TO PROTECT WORKERS WHO ARE BRIDGE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SUCH MEASURES COULD EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY AIMED AT THOSE ENGAGED IN AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES.
WHILE IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT NOT EXCEED $1 MILLION, MR BRIDGE AGAINST IMPRUDENT EXPENDITURE.
H
AT RISK, MR
USEFULLY INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION
EXPENDITURE ON PREVENTION WOULD SAID THAT THERE
SAFEGUARDS
WERE
"THE CONSTRUCTION