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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1988
"WITH AN INCREASING COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO BETTER THAN JUST REACTING TO PROBLEMS AFTER THEY HAVE HAPPENDED," HE SAID.
MR HOLMES CITED THE EXAMPLE OF RED TIDES WHICH WOULD HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON ECOLOGY AND HUMAN HEALTH, AND OF WHICH POLLUTION WAS CLEARLY A SIGNIFICANT CAUSE.
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"ALTHOUGH TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS A BY POLLUTED SHELLFISH SO FAR UNPROVEN, VERY HIGH BACTERIA COUNTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN THE SAMPLES WE COLLECTED, HE SAID.
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REFERRING TO THE STANDARDS AND OBJECTIVES FOR WATER QUALITY IN HONG KONG, ME HOLMES SAID THESE WERE CHOSEN TO BE APPROPIATE TO LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND WERE NOT SIMPLY IMPORTED FROM OVERSEAS.
"PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO MICROBIAL STANDARDS, DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, INSOLATION AND OTHER FACTORS WOULD MAKE EUROPEAN OR AMERICAN STANDARDS MEANINGLESS HERE, HE SAID.
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"IN FACT, OUR STANDARDS FOR BATHING BEACHES ARE SET AT LOWER HEALTH RISK RATES THAN THE RISKS CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE IN THE U.S.A."
MR HOLMES ADDED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WOULD SHORTLY COMPLETE ITS REVIEW OF BATHING BEACH QUALITY IN THE 1988 BATHING SEASON.
THE URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL WOULD DECIDE ON WHICH BEACHES SHOULD BE OPENED OR CLOSED BEFORE THE NEXT BATHING SEASON.
THE DEPARTMENT'S REPORT WOULD BE PUBLISHED BEFORE NEXT SUMMER.
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HOLIDAY CAMP FOR THE DISABLED
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AN OUTING TO A SCENIC HOLIDAY CAMP HAS BEEN ARRANGED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF INTEGRATING THE DISABLED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO CELEBRATE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE FUNCTION "CAMPING OUT WITH THE DISABLED" WILL BE HELD AT THE YMCA WU KAI SHA YOUTH VILLAGE IN SHA TIN THIS WEEKEND.
THE 760 CAMPERS INCLUDE DISABLED CLIENTS AND THEIR PARENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S REHABILITATION SERVICE UNITS, BOYS AND GIRLS FROM CORRECTIONAL HOMES, PROBATIONERS, VOLUNTEERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS..
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MINGLE AND ENJOY A FUN-PACKED PROGRAMME STARTING FROM SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) WITH A CAMP-FIRE, A TALENT QUEST AND FOLK DANCE PERFORMANCE.
/THIS WILL