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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1993
SECOND REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT WHITE PAPER UNDERWAY
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WILL
THE SECOND REVIEW OF THE 1989 WHITE PAPER ON ENVIRONMENT BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT ADDRESSED ΤΟ EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, RNVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY COOPER, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
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SPEAKING AT THE PACIFIC ASIA TOURIST ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, MR COOPER SAID THE SECOND REVIEW WHICH WAS BEING DRAFTED FOR RELEASE LATER THIS YEAR, WAS MORE THAN JUST AN ACTION PLAN TO DEAL WITH WORST ABUSES OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
IT AIMED TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF GOVERNMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES SO FAR; SET DOWN THE BASIS FOR FUTURE ACTION TO PROTECT HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT; AND TO EXPLAIN SEVERAL INITIATIVES FOR IMPROVING THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN PERFORMANCE IN ENVIRONMENT
PROTECTION.
"THE REVIEW IS INTENDED TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIVE TOOL. IT WILL OUTLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME THE VERY NATURE OF HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN."
"IT WILL TAKE AS ITS STARTING POINT THE BELIEF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS NOT THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY PARTICULAR SECTOR OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT AN OBLIGATION THAT RESTS WITH US ALL, HE SAID.
MR COOPER SAID THERE WERE ALREADY SUBSTANTIAL MITIGATE THE WORST ABUSES OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AS
PROGRAMMES TO
PART OF THE SEWAGE STRATEGY, A HIGH PRIORITY PROGRAMME WAS ACTIVE PLANNING TO CURTAIL WATER POLLUTION JN THE CENTRAL
UNDER HARBOUR.
A SOPHISTICATED AND STATUTORY WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN FEATURING REMOTE LANDFILLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE. IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT IS EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF CHARGING FOR THE DISPOSAL OF CONSTRUCTION WASTE.
MR COOPER SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW DISCUSSING WITH THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY A DETAILED CONTROL PROGRAMME ON LIVESTOCK WASTE WHILE A CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT FACILITY ON TSING YI WOULD BE COMMISSIONED SHORTLY TOGETHER WITH ENFORCEMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION FOR TOXIC WASTE DISPOSAL.
AT THE CONFERENCE, MR COOPER ALSO CALLED ON THE TOURIST INDUSTRY ΤΟ PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF GREEN TOURISM.
BY
HIS PLEA RECEIVED POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM A NUMBER OF DELEGATES INCLUDING THOSE FROM THE LOCAL TOURISM INDUSTRY.
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