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Harbour water control zone effective on April 1
Phase three of the Victoria Harbour Water Control Zone (VHWCZ), which covers Quarry Bay, North Point, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley, Wan Chai, Central, Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town, will become effective on April 1.
All discharges from industrial, commercial, institutional and construction activities in the zone will need to obtain a licence from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and to meet the standards and requirements laid down under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
"This is the last phase of the VHWCZ to become effective. All waters of Hong Kong will now be protected under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. It is a significant step forward in the Government's plan to improve the water quality in Hong Kong's coastal waters," said Mr John Boxall, Assistant Director of Environmental Protection.
"Starting from April 1, anyone wishing to start a business that discharges wastewater in the VHWCZ Phase III must obtain a licence beforehand. They must also be able to treat their wastewater discharges to standards laid down in the licence."
"For existing dischargers, licence applications must be submitted to EPD by December 1, 1996. People are encouraged to make early applications so that they will have sufficient time to provide for or improve treatment of their discharges to meet the required standards," he said.
Any person who discharges polluting matter into any water control zone is committing an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 for the first offence and $400,000 for any subsequent offence. Offenders may also be liable to six months' imprisonment.
In addition, if the offence is a continuing one, a fine of $10,000 for each day may be imposed.
To assist the public in understanding the control requirements, EPD has published an information booklet which is available free of charge at its Local Control Office (Territory South) at Quarry Bay, and EPD's offices at Southorn Centre and Revenue Tower in Wan Chai.