7
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991
USE OF RECYCLED PAPER ENCOURAGED
**
THE GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING SPECIFIC SCHEMES THAT THE SEPARATION AND COLLECTION OF WASTE PAPER AND GREATER RECYCLED PAPER, AND THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 30 GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATING IN PAPER SEPARATION SCHEMES IN THEIR BUILDINGS.
PROMOTE USE OF OFFICES
THE AIM IS BOTH TO CREATE A DEMAND FOR PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FROM RECYCLED PAPER AND A SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL FOR THE PAPER RECYCLING INDUSTRY.
THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER WONG HONG-YUEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR BARNES SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO ASSISTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE THE SEPARATION OF PAPER WASTE IN OFFICES AND HOUSEHOLDS TO RECOVER MORE PAPER FOR RECYCLING.
HE SAID GUIDES TO PAPER RECYCLING IN OFFICES AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS HAD RECENTLY BEEN PRODUCED AND WERE NOW BEING ISSUED BY THE COMMITTEE, WHICH HAD MADE RECYCLING ONE OF ITS MAIN FOCUSES OF ATTENTION SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF 1990.
MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT OFFICIAL PROMOTION OF RECYCLING WAS A COMPLEX BUSINESS, AND INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELATING TO RECYCLING WAS PROBABLY THE BEST CONTRIBUTION WHICH THE GOVERNMENT COULD MAKE AT THIS STAGE.
*
"THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WILL' ONLY INVEST IN RECYCLING PLANTS IN HONG KONG IF IT BELIEVES THAT IT WILL GET TANGIBLE PUBLIC SUPPORT, HE SAID.
TURNING ΤΟ THE AVAILABILITY OF RECYCLED PAPER, MR BARNES SAID THERE WERE THREE PAPER MILLS OPERATING IN HONG KONG PRODUCING ABOUT 400 TONNES OF LOW GRADE RECYCLED PAPER DAILY, WITH MOST OF WHICH IS USED IN HONG KONG, WHILE A FOURTH MILL WAS DUE TO COMMENCE OPERATIONS SHORTLY.
FROM OVERSEAS SOURCES, IMPORTED RECYCLED PAPER PRODUCTS SUCH AS NEWSPRINT, PRINTING AND WRITING PAPER CAME MAINLY FROM TAIWAN AND JAPAN WHICH ARE ALSO DESTINATIONS OF A GREAT DEAL OF HONG KONG WASTE PAPER THOUGH MANY OF THESE PRODUCTS CONTAINED ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF RECYCLED PAPER, HE SAID.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE PRIMARY USAGE OF LOCALLY PRODUCED RECYCLED PAPER WAS PAPERBOARD FOR PACKAGING, WHEREAS IMPORTED PAPER PRODUCTS INCLUDED PAPER ENVELOPES AND TOILET TISSUE.
HE SAID RECENTLY SOME HONG KONG COMPANIES HAD TAKEN THE INITIATIVE IN USING RECYCLED PAPER SHOPPING BAGS AND STATIONERY
MR
BARNES SAID A TRIAL USE OF RECYCLED PAPER FOR PRINTING AND CORRESPONDENCE WOULD ALSO START SOON IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH.
/"HOWEVER, AT