P
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1987
HE NOTED THAT THE MAIN THRUST OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME TO DATE HAD BEEN LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS.
ON
GOVERNMENT'S
INTRODUCING
IN ORDER TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTANTS. A. FACTORY COULD EMIT; TO CLEAN UP WATERCOURSES, LEGISLATION HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO BAN THE KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK IN URBAN AND NEW TOWN AREAS, AND TO IMPOSE CONTROLS ON INDUSTRIAL WASTE; AND TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF NOISE POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON INDUSTRIAL NOISE.
PROP POON QUESTIONED WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD RELY SOLELY ON THESE MEASURES. HE SAID IT WAS HIS FIRM BELIEF THAT EMPHASIS SHOULD ALSO BE PUT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
HE SUGGESTED THAT EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO HELP INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS AND FARMERS TO IDENTIFY WAYS OF REDUCING THE POLLUTION THEY WERE CAUSING. SUCH MEASURES SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED PREFERABLY EVEN BEFORE LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS WERE INTRODUCED.
THE MOST POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE MEANS
LAY IN PLANNING, HE STRESSED,
OF
COMBATING POLLUTION
ARE
"CONSTRUCTING MUNICIPAL INCINERATORS IN POPULATION CENTRES, AND BUILDING RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS RIGHT NEXT ΤΟ FACTORY CHIMNEYS BUT SOME OF THE MORE GLARING EXAMPLES OF THE BAD PLANNING, WHICH 19 PROLIFIC IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
"IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SHOULD BECOME A KEY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY.
"GIVEN THAT MUCH OF THE POLLUTION IN HONG KONG IS A POPULATION GROWTH, IT IS IMPORTANT TO INSTIL IN THE GENERAL, SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
I
PLANNING
RESULT OF PUBLIC A
PROF POON SAID THAT AT THE SAME
TIME, THE PUBLIC COULD NOT HELP BUT WONDER WHY SO LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE SITUATION HAD BREN SHOWN, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT
THE EXPANSION ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, GREAT INCREASE IN ITS EXPENDITURE.
OF
OF THE AND THE
"PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS WHOLE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO IMPROVING COST-EFFECTIVENESS, AND ΤΟ CONSOLIDATION, RATER THAN CONTINUING EXPANSION OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE SUGGESTED.
"
FINALLY, PROF POON REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT TIAT HONG KONG RELIED HEAVILY ON MAINTAINING ITS COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIAL EDGR. SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OVERSEAS COULD NOT BE BLINDLY APPLIED TO HONG KONG, HE SAID.
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