WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
28
THE
-
'CONSULTATIONS
ON
HAVE BEEN HELD WITH FARMERS REPRESENTATIVES LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, THE LIVESTOCK SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, AND VARIOUS LIVESTOCK TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.
**THEIR VIEWS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND THE REVISED SCHEME HAS BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THESE VIEWS AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, HAVING REGARD TO THE NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE WITH THE WIDER INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE URGENT NEED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
"
FOR EXAMPLE, MR EASON SAID, FARMERS WOULD BE GIVEN THREE YEARS AFTER LICENSING TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED STANDARD.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE RATE OF CAPITAL GRANT WILL BE INCREASED TO COVER UP TO HALF THE MARKET COST OF INSTALLING WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM.
MR EASON SAID MOST FARMER REPRESENTATIVES HAD ACCEPTED THE PRINCIPLES OF THE LICENSING SYSTEM AND WERE GENERALLY RECEPTIVE TO THE REVISIONS MADE TO THE SCHEME.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CONSULTED AND HAS GIVEN ITS SUPPORT TO THE PROPOSALS AND THE RELATED LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
MR EASON SAID THE OPPORTUNITY WAS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO AMEND THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASED PENALTY ON ILLEGAL DISPOSAL OF LARGE QUANTITIES OF WASTE COMMONLY KNOWN AS "FLY-TIPPING"
THE BILL WILL MAKE FLY-TIPPING AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND WILL CARRY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $200,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE, $500,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES, AND A DAILY FINE OF UP TO $10,000 FOR CONTINUING OFFENCES, HE SAID.
OTB BACK TO PRIVATE SECTOR
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) INTRODUCED A BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO AMEND THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK (ACQUISITION) ORDINANCE SO AS TO PUT THE BANK ON THE SAME FOOTING AS OTHER BANKS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK (ACQUISITION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993. THE SECRETARY FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, SAID THE BILL WOULD REPEAL A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK WHICH ARE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE.
BUT SOME EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE ARE NECESSARY ΤΟ BE LEFT INTACT, SUCH AS THOSE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW COMPENSATION TO BE MADE. THESE PROVISIONS ARE NOT TIME-BARRED AND IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO DO SO, MR CARTLAND SAID.
/UNDER CERTAIN