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Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance streamlined
The Government proposes to streamline the operation of the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance enacted in 1989 to provide for the handling of ozone depleting scheduled substances which are seized but for which an owner cannot be traced.
A Government spokesman said today (Friday) that at present, the Ordinance prohibits local manufacturing of ozone depleting substances, restricts their import and export, and deals with seized items for which an owner can be identified.
To improve upon the current situation, an Ozone Layer Protection (Amendment) Bill 1996 will be introduced to empower the Director of Environmental Protection to handle seized items for which no apparent owner can be identified so that a notice can be served to invite claim for ownership.
If no claim has been established within 30 days, the Director may apply for forfeiture of the seized items.
The Bill, gazetted today, will be introduced into the Legislative Council on December 18.
It will also provide for the petition by the owners to the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands to claim the return of forfeited items within six weeks after the forfeiture.
Another purpose of the Bill is to transfer the powers to make regulation and amend the schedule to the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, after consultation with the Advisory Council on the Environment.
The appeal hearing function will also be transferred from the Governor to the Administrative Appeals Board as the appeals concern primarily registration and licensing matters.
"By improving the efficiency of the current procedures and strengthening the enforcement arrangements, the proposed amendments will enable Hong Kong to discharge more effectively its international obligations to protect the earth's ozone layer," the spokesman said.
"The Bill has been endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Environment. All registered importers and exporters of scheduled substances and major trade organisations raised no objection to the proposed amendments."
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