SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25. 1989
CONSTRUCTIVE LINE IN MEETING POLLUTION WHITE PAPER COMMITMENTS
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ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF MEETING THE COMMITMENTS
FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) IS LOOKING
IN THE WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE LESS STAFF BECAUSE OF THE CLAMP-DOWN RECRUITMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE. THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. DR STUART NEED, SAID THIS (SATURDAY EVENING.
ON
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, DR REED REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE RESOLUTE ACTION то TRIM GROWTH IN THE CIVIL SERVICE TO TWO PER CENT PER YEAR.
FOR
DR REED SAID HE WOULD EXPECT RATHER MORE GENEROUS TREATMENT HIS DEPARTMENT. SINCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY AREA FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION.
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BUT BEING REALISTIC I CANNOT EXPECT THAT THE BE PROVIDED FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO.'
IL
RESOURCES WILL
HE SAID.
IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAMMES IN THE WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION, DR REED SAID MORE DIRECT AND SIMPLE WAYS WOULD HAVE TO BE ADOPTED IF THE REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF WERE TO BE REDUCED ΤΟ THE MINIMUM. BUT HE WARNED THAT THIS APPROACH WOULD REQUIRE GREATER POLITICAL WILL AND MORE CO-OPERATION FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
GIVING EXAMPLES OF ALTERNATIVES, DR REED SAID THAT THE BAN ON LIVESTOCK KEEPING IN THE URBAN AREAS COULD BE EXTENDED TO SENSITIVE RECREATIONAL AREAS SUCH AS SAT KUNG AND LANTAU AND OTHER OUTLYING ISLANDS,
"THIS WOULD REDUCE SUBSTANTIALLY THE AREA то BE COVERED BY EPD'S LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL STAPP AND ACHIEVE THE SORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN IN THE URBAN AREAS. WHERE THE BAN IS CURRENTLY 100 PER CENT EFFECTIVE. HE SAID.
DR REED SAID SMOKY VEHICLES WAS ANOTHER AREA WHERE THE DEPARTMENT COULD REDUCE THE ADDITIONAL STAFF REQUIRED TO GET ON TOP OF THE PROBLEM.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO FINANCE BRANCHI FOR MORI RESOURCES TO CHECK MORE VEHICLES, FINES COULD BE INTRODUCED FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE SPOTTED AND REPORTED FOR EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE. AND THESE VEHICLES COULD BE REQUIRED TO REPORT FOR TESTING TO AN AUTHORISED PRIVATE SECTOR GARAGE. RATHER THAN TO THE EPD'S OWN TESTING CENTRE.
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES THAT WOULD LEAD TO A REDUCED NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF. IN PARTICULAR. WKRE THE VERY IMPORTANT PROPOSALS TO REDUCE THE SULPHUR AVEL IN FUEL OIL TO 0.5 PER CENT AND TO REMOVE FROM THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE THE CONCESSION THAT ALLOWED EXISTING POLLUTERS TO CONTINUE POLLUTING.
/ONE FINAL