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FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1991
EXISTING
HOWEVER, TO AVOID TOO DRASTIC AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE LEVEL OF FEES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT THE FEE INCREASE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, THAT IS TO CHARGE
75 PER CENT OF THE FULL COST IN THE FIRST YEAR AND 100 PER CENT IN THE SECOND YEAR.
TO TAKE INTO SUBSEQUENT
THE SCHEDULE of FEES WOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY ACCOUNT THE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF THE FULL RATES AND ANY INCREASE OR DECREASE IN COSTS.
THE INCREASE IN FEES WILL CONSTITUTE ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL OPERATING COST OR BUSINESS TURNOVER OF THE AFFECTED COMPANIES. ACCORDINGLY, THE RESULTANT COST IMPACT SHOULD BE
INSIGNIFICANT.
THE NEW FEES WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 21 THIS YEAR.
PR TECHNIQUES HELP CHANGE PUBLIC THINKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
* * *
PUBLIC RELATIONS TECHNIQUES, APPLIED THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, HAVE ENORMOUS POWER IN CHANGING THE THINKING AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ORGANISED BY THE PACIFIC SOCIETY OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IN CELEBRATION OF
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY THIS YEAR.
THE
DR REED SALD THAT, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN CHANGES FOR THE BETTER ON THE ENVIRONMENT SIDE, BUT HONG KONG WAS STILL FALLING WELL SHORT OF WHAT WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE IT HAD A PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT OF A STANDARD THAT MATCHED ITS PRIVATE PROSPERITY.
"THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE AND MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES HE SAID.
t
t
"HEAVY FINES AND IMPRISONMENT TERMS CERTAINLY HAVE A WORTHWHILE DETERRENT EFFECT, BUT OFFENDERS HAVE TO BE CAUGHT AND EVEN A SMALL ARMY OF POLLUTION CONTROL INSPECTORS CANNOT GUARANTEE TO CATCH ALL THE OFFENDERS,"
DR REED SAID OUR GOAL SHOULD BE TO REDUCE THE GENERATION, IN THE FIRST PLACE, OF THOSE WASTES THAT CAUSED POLLUTION RATHER THAN SEEKING SIMPLY TO CONTROL
DISCHARGE OF THESE WASTES ΤΟ THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE
"IN ORDER