+
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1994
GOVT TO PHASE IN LICENSING FOR LIVESTOCK KEEPING
WITH
KEEPING
THE GOVERNMENT WILL PHASE IN A LICENSING SCHEME FROM JULY
1994 FOR THE REGULATION OF LIVESTOCK 1, LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL AND RESTRICTION AREAS.
THIS
THE
EFFECT IN THE
ENABLING NECESSARY
FOLLOWS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL FOR MAKING THE REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THE REVISED LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME ΤΟ WHICH HAS INCORPORATED SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL SCHEME ADDRESS FARMERS' CONCERN.
THESE INCLUDE MUCH MORE CASH ASSISTANCE FOR LIVESTOCK FARMERS TO INSTALL WASTE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND A GENEROUS THREE-YEAR LEAD TIME TO ATTAIN THE FINAL REQUIRED DISCHARGE STANDARD.
PHASE I OF THE LICENSING SCHEME WILL COVER SOME OF THE AND RESTRICTION AREAS DESIGNATED IN TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, CHUNG, AND ALONG NG CHUNG RIVER AND SHENZHEN RIVER.
CONTROL
LAM
ΤΑΙ
AREAS CAN
OPERATORS OF LIVESTOCK FARMS LOCATED WITHIN THESE APPLY TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR A LICENCE BETWEEN JULY 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 1994.
COMPLIANCE OF THE ULTIMATE DISCHARGE STANDARD FOR PHASE I AREAS WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THREE YEARS, INITIALLY AT 250:250 (BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND:
A SUSPENDED SOLIDS DISCHARGE) ON JULY 1, 1995, THEN YEAR LATER TO 100:100 BEFORE REACHING THE 50:50 STANDARD BY JULY 1, 1997.
PHASE II LICENSING APPLICATION WILL BEGIN FROM JULY 1, 1995 FOR FARMERS OPERATING IN SOME OF THE CONTROL AND RESTRICTION AREAS IN YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN AND KAM TIN.
THE FINAL PHASE WHICH COVERS THE REMAINING CONTROL AREAS WILL BEGIN ON JULY 1, 1996.
PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS MR WILLIAM HUI SAID THE REVISED SCHEME WAS WORKED OUT AFTER PROLONGED DISCUSSIONS WITH MAJOR LIVESTOCK FARMING BODIES.
**
"WE HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE CAPITAL GRANT AND HAVE ADDRESSED FARMERS CONCERN ABOUT THE DISCHARGE STANDARD BY ADOPTING A GRADUAL APPROACH TOWARDS COMPLIANCE AND BY ALLOWING THEM TO CHOOSE WHATEVER TREATMENT METHOD THEY PREFER SO LONG AS THEY CAN COMPLY WITH THE DISCHARGE STANDARD.
"OVER 1,000 TONNES OF UNTREATED LIVESTOCK WASTE IS BEING DUMPED INTO OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS EVERYDAY. THE POLLUTION EFFECT IS EQUIVALENT ΤΟ DISCHARGE FROM ONE MILLION PEOPLE OR 1/6 OF THE POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
"WE
CANNOT ALLOW THIS SITUATION, WHICH IS SERIOUSLY OUR BEACHES AND STREAMS, TO CONTINUE," HE SAID.
POLLUTING
/HE SAID