TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1992
NORTH WESTERN WATER CONTROL ZONE EFFECTIVE TOMORROW
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IS THE FIRST APPOINTED DAY OF THE NEWLY DECLARED NORTH WESTERN WATER CONTROL ZONE (WCZ) WHEN CONTROLS ON NEW DISCHARGES UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE (WPCO) IN THE ZONE TAKES EFFECT.
THE SECOND APPOINTED DAY WILL BE ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR WHEN ALL EXISTING DISCHARGES WILL COME UNDER CONTROL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE NORTH WESTERN WCZ COVERS TUEN MUN, LAM TEI, TAI LAM CHUNG, SO KWUN
WAT, PILLAR POINT, TAP SHEK KOK, LUNG KWU SHEUNG TAN, YAM 0, CHEK LAP KOK, TUNG CHUNG AND TAI 0.
SEWERS
EXCEPT FOR THE DISCHARGE OF DOMESTIC SEWAGE INTO PUBLIC AND UNPOLLUTED WATER INTO ENVIRONMENTAL WATERS, ALL OTHER DISCHARGES ARE SUBJECT TO CONTROL.
THESE INCLUDE EFFLUENTS FROM ALL TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING, COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS, AND SEPTIC DOMESTIC SEWAGE FROM VILLAGE HOUSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS AN OFFENCE TO POLLUTING MATTER INTO THE WATERS OF HONG KONG IN A DISCHARGE WAS MADE UNDER, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, A UNDER THE WPCO.
TANKS RECEIVING
DISCHARGE ANY WCZ UNLESS THE LICENCE GRANTED
THEREFORE, WHILE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A LICENCE IS NOT AN OFFENCE, IT IS STRONGLY ADVISABLE FOR THE DISCHARGER, OR THE OWNER OR OCCUPANT OF THE PREMISES FROM WHICH THE EFFLUENT DISCHARGE IS MADE, TO OBTAIN A LICENCE TO AVOID THE RISK OF PROSECUTION,
FOR ANY NEW DISCHARGE MADE IN THE NORTH WESTERN WCZ AFTER APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, A LICENCE SHOULD BE OBTAINED BEFORE COMMENCING THE DISCHARGE.
FOR ALL DISCHARGES IN EXISTENCE IN THE NORTH WESTERN WCZ BEFORE APRIL 1, APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR.
NORTH WESTERN WCZ IS THE SEVENTH OF ITS KIND DECLARED SO FAR.
THE SIX OTHER WCZS ARE IN TOLO HARBOUR, SOUTHERN, JUNK BAY, PORT SHELTER, DEEP BAY AND MIRS BAY.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED THOSE WHO WERE DISCHARGING POLLUTING MATTER WITHOUT A LICENCE IN THESE WCZS TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
/THE SPOKESMAN