THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1992
CFC CONSUMPTION IN HK REDUCED BY HALF
OF
HONG KONG HAS SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING BY HALF THE CONSUMPTION CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) WITHIN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE CONTROL OF THESE SUBSTANCES WHICH CAUSE THE DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER.
DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY COOPER, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY): "WE HAVE WELL EXCEEDED OUR TARGET IN REDUCING THE CONSUMPTION OF CFCS SINCE THE CONTROLS ON THE SCHEDULED CFCS CAME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, 1989.
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"IN THE FIRST YEAR OF CONTROL, THE CONSUMPTION WAS REDUCED FROM 3,855 TONNES TO 2,126 TONNES AND IN THE SECOND YEAR IT WAS FURTHER REDUCED то 1,962 TONNES, A TARGET WHICH WE ARE NOT SCHEDULED ΤΟ ACHIEVE UNTIL 1995. OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO PHASE OUT CFCS TOTALLY BY 2001," MR COOPER SAID.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT HONG KONG WAS INCLUDED IN UK'S RATIFICATION OF THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 1989.
"WE HAVE BEEN TAKING EVERY STEP TO IMPLEMENT THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL AND TO FULFIL OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PROTOCOL," MR COOPER SAID.
"THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE OZONE LAYER PROTECTION ORDINANCE IN JULY 1989 TO PROHIBIT THE MANUFACTURE OF SUBSTANCES THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER AND CONTROL THE IMPORT AND EXPORT OF THESE SUBSTANCES THROUGH REGISTRATION AND LICENSING PROVISIONS.
"THE ORDINANCE ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL MAY MAKE REGULATIONS GENERALLY TO CONTROL SPECIFIED SUBSTANCES," HE ADDED.
IN VIEW OF THE INCREASED CONCERN OVER THE DEPLETION OF THE OZONE LAYER AND POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS OF THIS DEPLETION, MR COOPER SAID: "THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING HOW CONSUMPTION OF THESE SCHEDULED SUBSTANCES MIGHT BE REDUCED EVEN FURTHER, HOW INCENTIVES MIGHT BE PROVIDED TO RECYCLE OR RECLAIM CFCS, HOW THE VENTING OF CFCS ΤΟ THE ATMOSPHERE MIGHT BE PROHIBITED AND HOW USERS OF CFCS MIGHT BE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO CFCS OR BETTER CONSERVE THOSE THEY. ALREADY HAVE.
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HE ALSO SAID THE SUBMISSIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH THE SUBJECT WILL BE STUDIED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
ON
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