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TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993
REVIEW AIMS TO CHART CLEANER, GREENER PATH INTO NEXT CENTURY
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THE 1993 ENVIRONMENTAL WHITE PAPER REVIEW AIMS ΤΟ BRING HOME TO THE COMMUNITY, AS A WHOLE AND AS INDIVIDUALS, THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING AND HOW WE MIGHT CHART A CLEANER, GREENER PATH INTO THE 21ST CENTURY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR EASON SAID ONE OF THE MAJOR THEMES OF THE REVIEW, CONDUCTED BIENNIALLY, WOULD BE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN ORDER TO BRING ACROSS THE MESSAGE THAT CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT WAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL.
HE SAID THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY SECTORS HAD POSSIBLY A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY AND PRESSURE ΤΟ MEET THESE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAD COME NOT SOLELY FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO FROM TODAY'S GLOBAL MARKETS.
THEY WERE FORCING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE BY CONTINUING UPGRADING INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.
MR EASON SAID THE 1993 REVIEW WOULD CONTAIN IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRY TO ACCEPT THAT COMPLYING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS WAS PART OF FACING UP TO SUCH GLOBAL COMPETITIVE PRESSURES.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT STEPS TAKEN INCLUDED THE FUNDING OF THE CENTRE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE UNITED STATES ASIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP WHICH WOULD BE SET UP IN HONG KONG.
MR EASON SAID AS THE REVIEW THIS YEAR WOULD BE VERY WIDE-RANGING AND QUITE DETAILED, IT WAS NOT PRACTICABLE ΤΟ HAVE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION ON ITS DRAFTING.
IDEAS FOR
"THE IDEA IS TO REPORT PROGRESS AND PUT OUT FRESH DISCUSSION; NOT TO START, HOLD AND CONCLUDE THE DEBATE ON EVERY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BEFORE WE PUBLISH.
"REMEMBER, THE NEXT REVIEW IS ONLY TWO YEARS AWAY. THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATE IS ON-GOING AND MANY INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS REQUIRE AND GET SEPARATE CONSULTATION EXERCISES BETWEEN REVIEWS, HE SAID.
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"THE 1993 WHITE PAPER REVIEW WILL MAP OUT WHERE WE THINK WR SHOULD BE GOING OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS ΤΟ ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL MISTAKES WE MADE IN BUILDING AN ECONOMICALLY HONG KONG ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AS HONG KONG CONSOLIDATES HE ADDED.
ITS
SUCCESSFUL SUCCESS,
It
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