JOINT STATEMENT BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND
THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY, LTD.
AND THE
THE HEARING OF THE ARBITRATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY, LIMITED ("THE COMPANY") RELATING TO THE LEVEL OF TOLLS TOOK PLACE IN OCTOBER 1990. THE COMPANY HAD REFERRED THE MATTER TO ARBITRATION IN MARCH 1989 AS PROVIDED IN THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ORDINANCE FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S REJECTION IN DECEMBER 1988 OF THE COMPANY'S APPLICATION FOR AN INCREASE IN TOLLS.
THE ARBITRATOR, SIR MICHAEL KERR, A RETIRED COURT OF APPEAL JUDGE FROM ENGLAND, HAS NOW FOUND IN FAVOUR OF THE GOVERNMENT.
BOTH PARTIES NOTED THAT THE CASE WAS COMPLEX AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD BE STUDYING THE TEXT OF THE ARBITRATOR'S DECISION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEIR LEGAL ADVISORS.
DANGER OF TOO MUCH ENVIRONMENTAL GLOOM AND DOOM
* * *
DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, TODAY (MONDAY) CAUTIONED THAT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON ENVIRONMENTAL GLOOM AND DOOM COULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE AND CAUSE NEEDLESS ANXIETY OR MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THE SITUATION WAS HOPELESS.
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF TSIM TSUI EAST, DR REED SAID: "WE HAVE BEEN OBLIGED ΤΟ FOCUS ON PROBLEM IN ORDER TO GET HOME THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS A NEED URGENT AND DETERMINED ACTION TO SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT".
SHA
THE
FOR
DR REED POINTED OUT THAT ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE , ENVIRONMENTAL MARTYRS' OF THE LONDON SMOGS OF THE 1950'S, MINAMATA IN THE 1960'S AND BHOPAL IN THE 1980'S WERE NEEDED TO BRING HOME TO COMMUNITIES THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
ALTHOUGH MUCH HAS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT, DR REED URGED THAT WE SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IS NOW BEING MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POLLUTION IN HONG KONG.
THE MOST SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE SO FAR, DR REED SAID, WAS THE DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN AIR POLLUTION, ESPECIALLY IN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, THAT WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE REQUIREMENT TO USE ONLY LOW SULPHUR, LOW VISCOSITY OIL.
FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL FUEL (RESTRICTION) REGULATIONS ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR, SULPHUR DIOXIDE LEVELS IN SOME PLACES HAD DROPPED BY UP TO 80 PER CENT, DARK SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM CHIMNEYS WERE ALMOST ELIMINATED AND NITROGEN DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS WERE REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY.
/DR REED
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