WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1990
NEW MEASURES TO CURD WATER POLLUTION OUTLINED
WHICH
IS
THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990, CONSIDERED A CORNERSTONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT TO CURB POLLUTION, WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON CLIVE OXLEY, SAID IT WAS NOW TIME TO ACT, BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.
"IF WE DO NOT RECTIFY THE WRONGS OF THE PAST, HONG KONG WILL BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED CITIES IN THE WORLD," MR OXLEY SAID.
IIE STRESSED THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S FIRM INTENTION TO IMPLEMENT THE LEGISLATION WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY AND TO DECLARE THE REMAINING SIX WATER CONTROL ZONES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
MR OXLEY SAID THE MAIN IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WERE INTENDED TO BE EFFECTED BY THE BILL WERE:
THE DELETION OF THE RIGHT OF EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING FOR DISCHARGES IN FUTURE WATER CONTROL ZONES;
THE REPLACEMENT OF EXEMPTION BY A RIGHT TO A LICENCE UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS;
THE INTRODUCTION OF A PROVISION THAT WHEN SETTING LICENCE CONDITIONS, THE AUTHORITY, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, SHOULD BE GUIDED BY EFFLUENT STANDARDS WHICH WERE TO BE LAID DOWN IN A TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS; AND
* TO INCREASE PENALTIES.
HOWEVER, THE SECRETARY SAID THERE WERE TWO POINTS HE WANTED ΤΟ
EMPHASISE.
FIRSTLY, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT TAKING AWAY, OVERNIGHT, THE RIGHT TO DISCHARGE WASTE WATERS.
"DISCHARGERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN GRANTED EXEMPTIONS IN THE FOUR EXISTING WATER CONTROL ZONES WILL BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE THEIR CURRENT EMISSIONS. WHEN THE AMENDED BILL COMES INTO EFFECT THEY WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN GRANTED LICENCES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HE SAID.
TE
THIS REPRESENTED, IN EFFECT, A TWO-YEAR GRACE PERIOD FOR A VERY STRICTLY LIMITED GROUP OF EFFLUENT PRODUCERS. BUT AFTER TWO YEARS THOSE DISCHARGERS WOULD HAVE TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
/ALL DISCHARGERS