TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1992
"THE PROVISION OF A CENTRAL FACILITY IS ESSENTIAL IN HONG KONG WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE ESTIMATED 8,000 CHEMICAL WASTE PRODUCERS COMPRISE SMALL, CROWDED FACTORIES WITH LITTLE SPACE, CAPITAL OR EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP AND INSTALL IN-HOUSE WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEMS, HE SAID.
MR LEUNG ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL WORKING ON THE DETAILS OF A CHARGING SCHEME.
"HAVING SAID THAT, HOWEVER, IT IS CERTAIN THAT THE FINAL SCHEME WILL HAVE TO TAKE CAREFUL ACCOUNT OF ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE INDUSTRY ITSELF, AND STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF AN OPTIMUM USE OF THE CWTF AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL OBJECTIVE OF RECOVERING THE COSTS OF THE FACILITY.
"THE TAXPAYERS CANNOT BE EXPECTED ΤΟ PAY THE COST FOR DISPOSING OF CHEMICAL WASTES WHEN THEY HAVE, FOR SO
LONG, HAD TO ENDURE THE SOCIAL COST OF A DEGRADED ENVIRONMENT FOR SO MANY YEARS, MR LEUNG SAID.
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ALSO SPEAKING AT THE REGIONAL CONFERENCE, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID UNLIKE MOST INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES, HONG KONG HAD NEVER HAD A SIGNIFICANT CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
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"HONG KONG'S PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GENERATED RATHER BY THE USE CHEMICALS MANUFACTURED ELSEWHERE AND THE USE AND DISPOSAL OF PRODUCTS CONTAINING THESE CHEMICALS.
"
DR REED SAID IF, IN THE FUTURE, HONG KONG DID SEE A GROWTH IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHEMICALS, THEN HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG AT PRESENT HAD IN PLACE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND TREATMENT FACILITIES TO KEEP ON TOP OF ANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.
DURING THE ONE-AND-A-HALF-DAY REGIONAL CONFERENCE, SPECIAL TECHNICAL REPORTS AND PAPERS ON CHEMICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT, LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS, TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND STANDARDS; AND OTHER CHEMICAL WASTE ISSUES WITH INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES WILL BE PRESENTED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT EXPERTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
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