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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1989
MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TRIED TO OBTAIN THE FACTS OF THE INCIDENT FROM THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND THROUGH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON. DRAWING ON THE USUAL CONTACTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM SUCH AS THE TELEPHONE ADVISORY SERVICE, THE CHINESE COMMUNITY. STUDENT BODIES AND SO ON.
"DESPITE THE PRESS REPORT IN SEPTEMBER WE HAVE RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS EITHER IN LONDON OR HERE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESS REPORT MAINLY ALLEGED TWO THINGS: LONG WAITING TIME FOR IMMIGRATION AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS. AND RUDE TREATMENT OF HONG KONG STUDENTS AT GATWICK.
THE REASONS GIVEN BY THE UK AUTHORITIES FOR THE DELAYS WERE:
—
THE LARGE NUMBER OF RETURNING AND NEW STUDENTS IN ALL ARRIVING WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME:
SEPTEMBER.
THE BUNCHING OF FLIGHTS FROM HONG KONG IN THE EARLY MORNING: AND
THE STAFFING LEVELS AND FACILITIES OF THE IMMIGRATION CONTROL UNIT AND IN THE HEALTH CONTROL UNIT WHICH WERE SET TO COPE WITH NORMAL PASSENGER NUMBERS RATHER THAN EXCEPTIONAL PEAKS.
NO EVIDENCE OF FALL IN OVERALL AIR POLLUTION
* *
THERE IS NO EVIDENCE FROM GOVERNMENT MONITORING STATIONS THAT THE OVERALL LEVEL OF AIR POLLUTION HAS ACTUALLY FALLEN, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES. SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TO
THIS WAS IN SPITE OF SOME 6,000 GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS FACTORIES, 600 LEGAL NOTICES AND OVER 1.000 PROSECUTIONS INITIATED SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE IN 1983, HE SAID.
MR BARNES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON-HWAN ON PROGRESS IN REDUCING AIR POLLUTION BY SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE ORDINANCE.
FACTORY
HON CHENG EMISSIONS,
HOWEVER, MR BARNES SAID, THIS WAS NOT TO
SAY THAT
THE SIX
YEARS WAS TIME WASTED.
"AIR CONTROL ZONES HAVE BEEN DECLARED, AIR QUALITY HAVE BEEN SET AND NEW REGULATIONS TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTING MADE. ALL ACTIONS PRE-REQUISITE то CONTROL UNDER ANY ENFORCEMENT.
OBJECTIVES INDUSTRIES SYSTEM
OF
/"THERE HAVE