27
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991
"BUT WE MUST PREPARE OURSELVES, FOR THE FACT THAT IT WILL TAKE LONGER THAN WE HAD HOPED TO BRING OUR PLANS TO FRUITION.
BE
"IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE OF FINANCIAL STRINGENCY, IT WILL NOT EASY TO FINANCE THE WHOLE OF THIS STRATEGY IN THE NORMAL WAY THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME," HE SAID.
IN THE
NECESSARY ADDED.
MEANTIME, THE GOVERNMENT WAS KEEPING TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAMME OF WORKS ON
UP THE STUDIES TARGET, MR BARNES
IN THIS RESPECT GOOD PROGRESS WAS ACHIEVED DURING A RECENT VISIT OF THE OFFICIALS FROM THE STATE OCEANIC ADMINISTRATION OF CHINA WITHOUT WHOSE CO-OPERATION THIS SCHEME INVOLVING AN OUTFALL WELL WITHIN CHINESE WATERS CANNOT PROCEED.
"AND WHETHER OR NOT SEWAGE CHARGES ARE LEVIED TO HELP RECOUP THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE CONSULTATIONS WITH CHINA WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY IF A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL LIABILITY OF THE WORKS EXTENDS BEYOND 1997.
"BUT OUR COMMITMENT TO IT, TO REDUCING POLLUTION, AND TO THE ENVIRONMENT GENERALLY, REMAINS AS STRONG AS EVER. AND THERE IS NO QUESTION OF SHELVING THE SEWAGE STRATEGY," MR BARNES SAID.
HE ADDED THAT $4 BILLION WORTH OF SEWAGE PROJECTS WERE CURRENTLY IN THE PIPELINE.
"WE ARE STILL PRESSING AHEAD TO IMPROVE THE SEWERAGE SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY IN KOWLOON, WHERE THE WORST PROBLEMS ARE, AND ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF HONG KONG ISLAND, WHERE SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR BEACHES ARE.
"WE WILL GRADUALLY CARRY OUT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WORST AREAS BY IMPLEMENTING WORKS ARISING FROM OUR SEWERAGE MASTER PLANS, AS FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, AND BY FORGING AHEAD ON MANY DIFFERENT ANTI- POLLUTION FRONTS DURING THE COMING YEAR, MR BARNES SAID.
"I
HE SAID IN ADDITION, THERE WERE OTHER MEASURES ADMINISTRATION AIMED TO ACHIEVE DURING THE COMING SESSION.
THESE INCLUDED:
*
*
WHICH THE
INTRODUCTION OF NEW AND VERY STRINGENT INTERNATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR ALL VEHICLES BOTH DIESEL AND PETROL-ENGINED IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG FROM JANUARY 1, 1992;
UPGRADING OF THE SMOKY VEHICLE SCHEME ENABLING VEHICLE EMISSION CHECKS TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY ABOUT 18 PRIVATE GARAGES, WITH A FEE BEING CHARGED FOR SUCH INSPECTIONS;
PRODUCING RECOMMENDATIONS ON A POLICY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AROUND THE END OF THIS YEAR; AND
SEEKING TO SAVE STAFF BY INTRODUCING LESS MANPOWER-INTENSIVE CONTROL MEASURES, INCLUDING PRIVATISATION OF WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES, SMOKY VEHICLE INSPECTIONS AND COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF MARINE REFUSE.
/ALL PRE