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Polluting industries in residential areas
The following is a question by the Hon John Tse Wing-ling and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
Question:
Regarding the problem of industrial facilities (such as garages) which pollute the environment being located in residential areas, will the Government inform this Council of the following:
Reply:
(a) how many commercial establishments engaged in polluting industries are
located in residential areas in the territory;
(b) what impacts do such industries have, in so far as environmental hygiene is concerned, on the residents nearby, and how many residents are affected; and
(c) what short-term measures and long-term policy the Government has put in place to deal with this problem; and whether consideration will be given to relocating such commercial establishment and giving them compensation?..
Mr President.
(a) "Commercial establishments engaged in polluting industries", which has not been defined in the question, is not a standard industrial classification on which government collects statistics. Nevertheless, using the example given in the question, there are, within the purview of the Environmental Protection Department, three main types of trades which might be considered polluting industries located in residential areas. Their numbers are:
Garages/auto-repair shops Petrol filling stations Pig roasting shops
768
86
99