45
J
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992
"ENFORCEMENT OF WATER
POLLUTION
CONTROLS IS VERY LABOUR EVERY POSSIBILITY IN ITS EFFECTIVE WATER POLLUTION
INTENSIVE. HOWEVER, THE EPD IS EXAMINING EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE LABOUR DEMANDS OF CONTROLS, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THE LAW EFFECTIVELY IN FORCE WITHIN ABOUT THREE YEARS.
"THE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME IS THE MOST COMPLEX ELEMENT OF THE STRATEGY AND INVOLVES BY FAR THE MOST COSTLY INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
"THE DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS MANAGING AN ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY STUDY, WHICH IS LOOKING AT SPECIFIC TUNNEL ROUTES AND DIFFERENT TREATMENT OPTIONS.
"THE EPD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A MARINE INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AUTHORITIES UNDER WHOSE JURISDICTION THE EVENTUAL OUTFALL WILL COME.
"THE INTENTION OF THIS SCHEME IS TO ENSURE THAT THE DISCHARGE OF TREATED SEWAGE EFFLUENT WILL NOT HAVE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT EITHER IN CHINESE WATERS OR ON THE COAST OF HONG KONG AND NEIGHBOURING CHINESE ISLANDS."
MR HOLMES SAID THOUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY MAY IMPOSE SOME COSTS ON INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS, IT WILL BRING ALONG BENEFITS THAT FAR OUTWEIGH THOSE COSTS.
"THESE BENEFITS MAY COME IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, SUCH AS IMPROVED WORKER PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH BETTER HEALTH, RECOVERY OF VALUABLE ENERGY AND MATERIALS, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND INCREASED TOURIST SPENDING.
"THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WILL STRATEGY OF IMPROVED SEWERAGE, ADEQUATE AND LEGAL CONTROLS ON POLLUTION.
BENEFIT SEWAGE
FROM THE THREE-FOLD DISPOSAL FACILITIES,
"WE ARE MAKING STEADY PROGRESS WITH ALL THESE ACTIVITIES, BUT
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WE FACE IN THE FUTURE IS FINDING AN EFFECTIVE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS TO FUND THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
申中
0
/46