XN000022-1974-09-10 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1974

SMOKE CONTROL AREA IN N.T.

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THE COMBINED AREA OF YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES CAME UNDER OFFICIAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS TODAY.

THE NEW SHOKE CONTROL AREA, COVERING ABOUT 85 SQUARE MILES, IS MOSTLY RURAL BUT HAS BEEN EARMARKED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR FUTURE RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, SINCE THE NEW SMOKE CONTROL AREA JAS GAZETTED, OFFICERS FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT HAVE CONTACTED AND GIVEN ADVICE TO EVERY KNOWN FUEL USER IN THE AREA.

THEY HAVE CAREFULLY EXPLAINED THE TIGHTER LIMITS ON SMOKE EMISSION THAT WILL APPLY FROM TODAY.

THESE VISITS WILL BE INTENSIFIED OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO ENSURE THAT EXISTING AND NEW FUEL USERS ARE GIVEN THE BEST ADVICE ON HOW TO AVOID AIR POLLUTION,

UNDER THE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE, AN OCCUPIER OF ANY PREMISES WITHIN A SHOKE CONTROL AREA WHO OPERATES A FURNACE, OVEN OR CHIMNEY EMITTING DARK SMOKE FOR SIX MINUTES IN A FOUR-HOUR PERIOD, OR MORE THAN THREE MINUTES AT ANY ONE TIME, IS LIABLE TO A $2,000 FINE.

HE CAN ALSO BE FINED $50 FOR EVERY 15 MINUTES DURING WHICH THE OFFENCE CONTINUES.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER, MR. DAVID NEUBURY, SAID TODAY HIS OFFICERS WOULD BE MAINTAINING A CONSTANT CHECK IN THE YUEN LONG AND TUEN KUN AREA.

+ THE AREA IS QUITE EXTENSIVE AND IT MAY WELL BE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE THE FIRST TO NOTICE A PERSISTENT OFFENDER+.

+VE WILL BE DELIGHTED TO HEAR FROM THEN+.

+IT IS IN EVERYBODY'S INTEREST, BOTH IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND CROP DAMAGE THAT AIR POLLUTION SHOULD BE REDUCED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL+.

THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL UNIT CAN BE CONTACTED ON 3-688924 (ENGLISH) AND 3-688954 (CANTONESE).