20
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1990
EXEMPTION,
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, UNLESS THEY QUALIFIED FOR
ALL POLLUTING EFFLUENTS INCLUDING THOSE FROM ELECTROPLATING FACTORIES AND THOSE MANUFACTURING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS MUST BE LICENSED.
TREATMENT
ALL NEW FACTORIES MUST INSTAL ADEQUATE WASTE FACILITIES BEFORE A LICENCE WAS GRANTED TO ALLOW THEM TO DISCHARGE THEIR EFFLUENTS INTO THE SEWERS,
MR OXLEY SAID THERE
HAD BEEN SEVEN SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS AGAINST OFFENDERS IN FO TAN AND TAI PO IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE REMAINING WATER CONTROL ZONES WILL DECLARED BY THE END OF 1991.
2.
STRENGTHENING THE WPCO (MEDIUM TERM).
BE
THE ORDINANCE'S EFFECTIVENESS WAS SEVERELY LIMITED BY ITS GENEROUS EXEMPTION PROVISIONS. THESE ALLOWED MOST FACTORIES IN EXISTENCE WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN EACH WATER CONTROL ZONE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND TO INCREASE THEIR EFFLUENTS BY UP TO 30 PER CENT. THE EXEMPTION PROVISION ALSO CREATED A CONTROL STRUCTURE THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER.
MR OXLEY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD THEREFORE GAZETTED A BILL TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY DELETING THE EXEMPTION PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCE. UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, ALL EFFLUENTS WOULD, WITHIN TWO YEARS, HAVE TO COMPLY WITH EFFLUENT STANDARDS BASED ON GUIDELINES PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE AS A TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM.
THE BILL WAS DUE FOR ENACTMENT IN THE CURRENT SESSION OF LEGCO. THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT ITS PROVISIONS WOULD APPLY TO THE NEXT GROUP OF WATER CONTROL ZONES TO BE DECLARED LATER IN THE YEAR, HE SAID.
3. LANDFILL DISPOSAL OF TOXIC WASTES (SHORT TERM).
SOME WASTES FROM ELECTROPLATING AND PRINTED CIRCUIT MANUFACTURING CONTAINED TOXIC CHEMICALS IN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS, COULD NOT PRACTICALLY BE TREATED то MEET THE REQUIREMENTS DISCHARGE TO THE SEWERS.
BOARD
AND
FOR
THESE WASTES HAD TO BE COLLECTED AT THE FACTORIES IN DRUMS AND TAKEN BY THE PRODUCER TO THE GOVERNMENT'S JUNK BAY WASTE DISPOSAL LANDFILL, WHERE THEY COULD BE DEPOSITED IN AN APPROVED AND SAFE MANNER.
THE CHEMICAL WASTE WAS DEPOSITED ALONG WITH MUCH LARGER QUANTITIES OF MUNICIPAL WASTE. HOWEVER, THE CAPACITY OF THE LANDFILL TO RECEIVE CHEMICAL WASTE WAS VERY LIMITED, HE SAID.
4.
FACILITY (MEDIUM TERM).
PROVISION OF A
CENTRALISED
CHEMICAL
WASTE TREATMENT
/TO OVERCOME