THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1993
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"GIVE" AND "TAKE" IN HK'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES
THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, TODAY (THURSDAY) URGED BUSINESSMEN TO CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMES IN RETURN FOR CHANCES TO SUPPLY GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THESE PROGRAMMES.
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF AMCHAM'S ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE, DR REED SAID ONE OF THE WAYS TO GIVE IS TO "GREEN THE SUPPLY CHAIN" BY LEANING ON SUPPLIERS TO MINIMISE ANY UNDERSIRABLE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE EFFECTS CREATED BY EACH STAGE OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN, INCLUDING ESPECIALLY THE PRODUCTION PROCESS ITSELF.
AS FAR AS HONG KONG IS CONCERNED, THE GARMENT AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES ARE THE TWO MAJOR TARGETS.
HE SAID HE WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASING TENDENCY AMONGST MAJOR COMPANIES WORLD-WIDE AND IN HONG KONG ΤΟ PRESSURE ON THEIR SUPPLIERS TO MEET CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.
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"THIS PRESSURE CAN RANGE FROM A COMPLETE REFUSAL то PURCHASE FROM PRODUCERS WHO DO NOT MEET CERTAIN BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, TO OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON REDUCING POLLUTION FROM THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, HE SAID.
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WHILE NOTING THAT IT MIGHT BE COMMERCIALLY UNREALISTIC FOR SMALL COMPANIES TO EXERT SUCH DIRECT PRESSURE, DR REED SAID: "IT SHOULD NEVERTHELESS BE POSSIBLE TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST, WHEN DEALING WITH FACTORY SUPPLIERS, IN WHAT POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES THEY HAVE ADOPTED.**
"OVER TIME, I AM SURE THIS WILL GENERATE AMONGST OUR FACTORY OWNERS A KEENER APPRECIATION OF THE NEED TO GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THE EFFECT THAT THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE HAVING ON THE HEALTH AND WELL- BEING OF THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG.
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PRAISING ANCHAM FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE IN SETTING UP AN ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, DR REED SAID HE HOPED THE COMMITTEE WOULD WORK OUT SOME PRACTICAL MEASURES THAT INDIVIDUAL COMMERCIAL COMPANIES COULD ADOPT, WITH A VIEW TO "GREENING THE SUPPLY CHAIN".
HE URGED THE COMMITTEE TO PUT ITS "SPEAKERS PROGRAMME" HIGHER ON ITS PRIORITY LIST AS THIS WAS A VERY GOOD WAY FOR SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE TO DEMONSTRATE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP.
WHILST BUSINESSMEN COULD EXPECT TO GAIN FROM INVOLVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS THOSE FOR SEWAGE AND WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES, THEY WOULD AT THE SAME TIME BE GIVING BECAUSE THE SUPPLY OF SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT IS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE PROGRAMMES.
HE SAID THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES WOULD CREATE A VERY CONSIDERABLE DEMAND FOR THE SUPPLY OF SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT AND THIS DEMAND WOULD INCREASE FURTHER AS A RESULT OF EPD'S IMPROVED POLLUTION CONTROL ENFORCEMENT EFFORT.
/DR REED
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