8
Dr Chan also noted that the disposal of recalled Vitasoy products by means of incineration and secondary sewage treatment had also been found to be acceptable with no discernible effect on either the operation or the environmental performance of the plants.
The Kwai Chung Incineration Plant would continue a daily intake of about 10 tonnes before the plant closes down for routine maintenance in mid March 1996 while the Sai Kung Sewage Treatment Works can accept at least 30 tonnes of liquid products a day, she said.
"According to this disposal plan, all the recalled Vitasoy products are expected to be disposed of by the end of April or early May," she added.
As for the costs for disposal, Dr Chan said Vitasoy had been informed that details of the charges to be levied were now being worked out by the Government.
End
External trade figures for January
Both re-exports and imports showed marked increases in January 1996 over a year earlier and domestic exports also registered a moderate increase, according to the external trade figures for January released by the Census and Statistics Department today (Thursday).
The value of total exports (comprising re-exports and domestic exports) increased by $18.9 billion or 19% over a year earlier to $120.2 billion in January 1996. Within total exports, the value of re-exports, at $101.2 billion in January this year, was $18 billion or 22% higher.
The value of domestic exports, at $19 billion, increased by $815 million or 4.5%. Meanwhile, the value of imports increased by $25.3 billion or 24% to $130.3 billion.
As the value of total exports in January 1996 was smaller than that of total imports, a visible trade deficit of $10.1 billion, equivalent to 7.7% of the value of imports, was recorded. This compared with a deficit of $3.6 billion, equivalent to 3.5% of the value of imports, in January 1995.