XN000022-1972-03-29 — Page 39

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Wednesday, March 29, 1972

"I cannot say how much is being dumped by selfish and unscrupulous

farm and factory managers or thoughtless individuals into streams when nobody

is looking, but we are hoping for some interesting new information to emerge

from the surveys we plan to set up this summer with the help of students

dedicated to the war on pollution."

Mr. Alexander said his department also accepted the responsibility

of clearing streems provided adequate resources were made available.

But, he said the practical task of cleaning 300 or more streams

regularly was quite formidable, particularly at a time when unskilled labour

in large numbers was not available.

Open Sewers

He explained that the majority of those streams had been converted

into open severe by the uncontrolled squatters who now infested most of the

areas.

"Cleaning up alone will not put an end to the problem, as long as

streams are still acting as entry points for all wastes from the activities

of squatter structures, industries and whatnots along their banks.'

A need existed for all existing streams to be dredged and trained

and reverted to their original state, he stressed.

In their place, local sewerage systems and collection centres

capable of dealing with all kinds of waste products, including refuse and

nightsoil, should be provided.

"The pollution in the New Territories is horrible compared with the

past, although, as far as I am aware, the general health of the rural

population is so much better than it was," he said,

/His ability