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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992
STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME NEVER SHELVED
THE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE LONG-TERM STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY AIMED AT PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE WATER ENVIRONMENT, HAS NEVER BEEN SHELVED THOUGH IT WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS BEHIND THE ORIGINAL RATHER OPTIMISTIC SCHEDULE.
THIS WAS STATED BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, MR PAUL HOLMES, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF CITY NORTHWEST HONG KONG.
MR HOLMES SAID THE BIGGEST LONG-TERM PROBLEM WITH THE SCHEME WAS FINDING MONEY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING AT A PROPOSAL TO FINANCE THE WORK BY LEVYING CHARGES ON ALL THE USERS OF THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SERVICE.
MR HOLMES SAID SINCE A LOT OF THE SEWAGE COMES FROM DOMESTIC USERS, THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO PAY THEIR SHARE OF THE COST.
THE CHARGES COULD BE SIMILAR TO THE COST OF CLEAN WATER EQUATION THAT IS NEITHER SURPRISING NOR UNREASONABLE.
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AN
MR HOLMES SAID THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY HAD THREE ELEMENTS TO TACKLE THE WATER POLLUTION PROBLEM.
FIRST, THE PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE SEWERAGE SYSTEM, TO COLLECT THE COMMUNITY'S LIQUID WASTE, SECOND, A STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME TO GET RID OF THE WASTE SAFELY, AND THE THIRD ELEMENT IS A PACKAGE OF LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE FIRST TWO ELEMENTS CAN OPERATE SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
"WORK ON ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE STRATEGY HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SEWERAGE MASTER PLANS HAVE NOW BEEN DRAWN UP EIGHT AREAS COVERING OVER TWO-THIRDS OF THE TERRITORY'S POPULATION.
FOR
STANLEY,
"A NEW LOCAL SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS IS BEING BUILT AT AND VARIOUS OTHER IMPROVEMENT WORKS ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
"A TOTAL OF OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS IS ALREADY COMMITTED ΤΟ THIS WORK.
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HE SAID AMENDMENTS TO THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE CAME INTO FORCE AT THE END OF 1990, AND A COMPREHENSIVE NEW SET OF STANDARDS WAS PUBLISHED IN JANUARY, 1991. THIS HAD PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF IN OPERATION.
"THERE ARE STILL IMPORTANT AREAS OF THE TERRITORY WHERE THIS LAW IS NOT IN FORCE, AND THIS INCLUDES THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS AROUND VICTORIA HARBOUR. THE REASON FOR THE DELAY IS SIMPLY A SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER.
/"ENFORCEMENT OF