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Under the proposed provisions, it will be an offence for a person to import or export waste except under and in accordance with a permit issued by the Director. The proposed penalty is a maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment for the first offence and $500,000 and two years' imprisonment for the second or subsequent offences. It will also be an offence to make a false statement to procure the issue of a permit.
The Bill also seeks to effect other minor amendments to the Waste Disposal Ordinance by improving the administration of licensing control, by bringing the term of service for membership of the appeal board already provided for under the Ordinance in line with similar appeal boards set up under other environmental legislation, and by providing greater flexibility in implementing charging proposals.
Mr President, the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill seeks to establish a local regulatory regime which is compatible with international standards on control over the export and import of hazardous and other wastes. This will ensure that our trade with parties to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal will not be adversely affected and will prepare us for the eventual extension of the Convention to Hong Kong. The Bill also introduces other miscellaneous amendments to the principal Ordinance. I commend the Bill to Members for their consideration.
Thank you, Mr President.
End/Wednesday, January 11, 1995
Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Bill
Following is a speech by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, in moving the second reading of the Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Bill in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move that the Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Bill be read the second time.
The purpose of the Bill is to extend the power of the Director of Marine in regulating traffic, thereby ensuring a higher standard of safety in the waters of Hong Kong. This will be achieved by enabling the director to -