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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992
GOVERNOR VISITS SOUTHERN DISTRICT
THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, VISITED SOUTHERN DISTRICT THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON, TOURING TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND SEEING FOR HIMSELF THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF BOAT DWELLERS.
FOR
MR PATTEN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ACTING REGIONAL SECRETARY HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR PHILIP CHOK; SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS ROSANNA URE AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HUI YUNG-CHUNG.
HE FIRST WENT TO WAH KWAI ESTATE, THE LATEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT, AND MET A FAMILY THERE BEFORE TOURING A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY.
LATER, HE INSPECTED 13,000-PEOPLE SHEK PAI WAN ESTATE WHICH WAS BUILT IN THE LATE 60'S. THE GOVERNOR ALSO TOURED THE ST PETER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL.
MR PATTEN THEN VISITED A DWELLING BOAT FAMILY IN THE ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT, THE GOVERNOR MET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND OTHER PERSONALITIES IN A FLOATING RESTAURANT IN THE TYPHOON SHELTER.
GREEN GROUPS BRIEFED ON PROPOSALS TO CLEAN UP HK WATERS
BY
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WERE BRIEFED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING (ENVIRONMENT), MR TONY COOPER, ON THE NEW INITIATIVES TO CLEAN UP HONG KONG'S WATERS AND TO DEAL WITH SOLID WASTES ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS LAST WEEK.
AT TODAY'S MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION, WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE AND THE GREEN POWER, MR COOPER EXPLAINED THE URGENCY TO EMBARK ON A SEWAGE STRATEGY PROGRAMME TO DEAL WITH THE HUGE VOLUME OF UNTREATED SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGED INTO THE HARBOUR WHICH AT PRESENT STOOD AT 1.5 MILLION CUBIC METRES EACH DAY.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INVOLVE EXTENSIVE ENGINEERING WORKS TO COLLECT SEWAGE FOR TREATMENT BEFORE DISCHARGE THROUGH AN OCEANIC OUTFALL SYSTEM WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE POLLUTION IN THE HARBOUR AND GREATLY IMPROVE WATER QUALITY OF THE HARBOUR AND SWIMMING BEACHES.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST $3 BILLION TO ENABLE THE STRATEGY TO GET OFF THE GROUND QUICKLY.
/UNDER THE