SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 1988
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SUFFICIENT TIME GIVEN TO FARMERS
IN ORDER TO ALLOW AFFECTED FARMERS SUFFICIENT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROLS, THE ADOPT A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH, FOR A SHORT PERIOD THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTROLS.
TIME PO ADJUST GOVERNMENT WILL
OF TIME, DURING
LIVESTOCK KEEPING IN THE LIVESTOCK WASTE PROHIBITION AREAS COVERING HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE BANNED FROM JUNE 24 (FRIDAY).
THE PROHIBITION AREAS ARE: SHA TIN, ΤΑΙ PO, FANLING, SHEUNG SHUI, TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHING, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, TIN SHUI WAI AND JUNK BAY.
CONTROL
CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL IN THE FIRST THREE AREAS COVERING TOLO HARBOUR AND TOLO CHANNEL, MUI WO AND ANGLER'S BEACH AREAS WILL ALSO BE EFFECTIVE FROM THE SAME DATE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE CONTROLS TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENT IN WATER QUALITIES IN TOLO HARBOUR, SILVERMINE BAY AND ANGLER'S BEACH, WHILST LIVESTOCK KEEPING WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND HAD TO BE BANNED IN PROHIBITION AREAS.
UNDER THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME, FARMERS IN CONTROL AREAS CAN APPLY ΤΟ THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT FOR CAPITAL GRANT AMOUNTING TO 50 PER CENT OF THE CAPITAL COST FOR INSTALLATION OF THE NECESSARY TREATMENT FACILITIES, WHILST THE REMAINING 50 PER CENT CAN BE COVERED BY LOW INTEREST LOANS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
FARMERS IN PROHIBITION AREAS AND THE FIRST THREE CONTROL AREAS CAN RECEIVE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT UPON CESSATION OF LIVESTOCK KEEPING OPERATIONS.
THE EIGHT TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAMS OF EPD- HAVE VISITED ALL THE FARMERS IN THE FIRST THREE CONTROL AREAS WHO WISHED ΤΟ CONTINUE LIVESTOCK KEEPING OPERATION AND HAVE ADVISED THEM ON HOW то COMPLY WITH CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.
EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON ADVISING FARMERS CONCERNED TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CONTROLS.
BEING
PROSECUTION WILL BE TAKEN ONLY IF REGULATIONS WERE STILL BREACHED AFTER VERBAL AND WRITTEN WARNINGS HAD BEEN GIVEN то THE FARMER CONCERNED.
FARMERS SHOULD HAVE THE NECESSARY TREATMENT FACILITIES INSTALLED AND PUT INTO OPERATION BEFORE THE NEW CONTROLS COME INTO EFFECT.
FARMERS IN THE PROHIBITION AREAS AND THE FIRST THREE CONTROL AREAS WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED FOR THE CAPITAL GRANT OR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES ARE URGED TO DO SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY. FOR ENQUIRIES, THEY CAN CONTACT EPD AT TELEPHONE 3-7801165 OR 3-7800126.
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