6
FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1992
NEW BILL TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION
THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY) THE AIR POLLUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION IN HONG KONG.
CONTROL
ACCORDING TO AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL WIDE RANGE PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, MR FRED TROMP, THE BILL PROPOSED A OF CHANGES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1983.
WHICH
ARE
LICENCE
AMONG THE MANY PROPOSALS, THREE MAJOR OBJECTIVES
ΤΟ
RELEASE CONTROL THE
OF ASBESTOS, ΤΟ
THE REMOVE
EXEMPTION BEING ENJOYED BY SOME FACTORIES FROM BEING REQUIRED TO HOLD A
ΤΟ OPERATE THE SO-CALLED "SPECIFIED PROCESSES" AND TO ISSUE A TECHNICAL
PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IN MEMORANDUM TO GUIDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ABATEMENT OF AIR POLLUTION.
+
THE
"ASBESTOS IS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER BUT THE RELEASE OF IT FROM
FORTH IS BUILDING WORKS AND SO
NOT CONTROLLED UNDER THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE.
"WE HAVE PROPOSED THAT ALL WORKS INVOLVING ASBESTOS MUST BE UNDER CARRIED OUT BY REGISTERED QUALIFIED PERSONS WITH THE ADVICE AND THE SUPERVISION OF REGISTERED CONSULTANTS", MR TROMP SAID.
TO
"IT IS INTENDED THAT HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED CARRY OUT SURVEYS TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF ASBESTOS. IN ADDITION,
DANGEROUS BLUE AND BROWN THE IMPORT AND SALE OF THE MOST WILL BE BANNED.'
ASBESTOS
SAID MR TROMP
HE HOPED THAT THE DEPARTMENT COULD START TO REGISTER QUALIFIED LATER THIS YEAR.
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND PERSONS
PROTECTION COMPANIES
THE FULL RANGE OF CONTROLS ON ASBESTOS ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTERWARDS.
IS
ΤΟ AIMED
COME IN
THE
ORDINANCE CURRENT
MORE
THE
HAS IDENTIFIED 23
OF TYPES
POTENTIALLY
SERIOUS AIR POLLUTING PROCESSES SUCH AS POWER
AND CEMENT STATIONS, STEEL WORKS
WORKS
THEM AND REQUIRES
TO BE "SPECIFIED REGISTERED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AS PROCESSES".
HOWEVER, MR TROMP POINTED OUT THAT "ONLY SOME OF THESE
SPECIFIED PROCESSES WERE PRESENTLY CONTROLLING THEIR LICENCES ISSUED BY THE EPD AND MOST WERE, IN FACT, EXEMPTED UNDER EXISTING LAW.
EMISSIONS
UNDER THE
MANY OF THESE FACTORIES WERE CONTINUING TO USE OUT-DATED THEM то START то EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES AND THE TIME HAD COME FOR CLEAN UP THEIR ACT.
"THE EXEMPTIONS WOULD BE REMOVED IN PHASES CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRIES INVOLVED, HE SAID.
AND IN FULL
/MR TROMP