THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1993
AIR POLLUTION UNDER MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
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THE COMMENCEMENT OF FOUR SETS OF AMENDMENTS UNDER THE 1993 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS WHICH AIM AT ACHIEVING BETTER AIR QUALITY IN HONG KONG WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE AMENDMENTS INCLUDE PROVISION FOR THE REMOVAL OF EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING CONTROL OF EXISTING SPECIFIED PROCESSES, NEW CONTROLS OF ASBESTOS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, INCREASE IN PENALTIES AND SEVERAL OTHER MEASURES AIMED AT MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION IN HONG KONG.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 23 POLLUTING INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES WHICH HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED AS SPECIFIED PROCESSES, BUT MOST EXISTING FACTORIES ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE LICENCING PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE GAZETTED AMENDMENTS EMPOWER THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS TO REMOVE THE EXEMPTIONS OF THESE FACTORIES AND ALSO EXTEND THE DEFINITION OF SPECIFIED PROCESSES SO THAT MORR FACTORIES WILL COME UNDER LICENCING CONTROL.
AS A RESULT, THE NUMBER OF LICENSED PREMISES WILL INCREASE FROM ABOUT 50 TO 260.
SAID
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) SINCE THESE FACTORIES HAD A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING AIR POLLUTION, REQUIRING THEM TO ADOPT THE BEST PRACTICABLE MEANS FOR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SPECIFIED PROCESSES WILL BE PHASED OVER FOUR YEARS WITH THE FIRST PHASE TO BEGIN THIS MONTH.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IS TO PUT IN PLACE PROPER CONTROLS FOR DEALING WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS IN BUILDINGS AND SHIPS.
"EPD WILL
REGISTER ASBESTOS CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, SUPERVISORS AND LABORATORIES WHO ARE PROPERLY QUALIFIED TO PRACTISE IN THE TRADE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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AN ASBESTOS ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO GIVE ADVICE ON REGISTRATION MATTERS AND TO CONDUCT INQUIRIES IN THE EVENT OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REGISTERED PERSONS.
THE ASBESTOS CONTROLS WILL ALSO BE IMPLEMENTED IN A PHASED MANNER. INITIALLY, ALL SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS WILL NEED TO APPOINT A REGISTERED CONSULTANT то SURVEY THEIR BUILDINGS AND PREPARE AN ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IN ADDITION, THEY, AND ALL OTHER OWNERS OF PREMISES, WILL NEED PREPARE AN ASBESTOS-ABATEMENT PLAN BEFORE ANY WORK INVOLVING ASBESTOS IS CARRIED OUT.
ΤΟ
/THEY WILL
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