XN000022-1976-05-01 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1976.

GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT

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'THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT (E.P.U.), IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY).

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN E.P.U. WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE CONSULTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES LIMITED, LATE LAST YEAR AND THE RECOMMENDATION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED BY THE

· ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (EPCOM).

THE CONSULTANTS WERE ENGAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER 1974 TO ADVISE ON THE ENACTMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORGANISATION.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT IS INTENDED THAT E.P.U. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, FOR: -

(A)

ESTABLISHING A PROGRAMME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT ON THE BASIS OF OVERALL OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES TAKING INTO ACCOUNT SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND HAVING REGARD TO LIKÉLY AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND CAPABILITY FOR ENFORCING ANY NEW LEGISLATION-

(B) ESTABLISHING STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WHERE

THESE ARE APPROPRIATE-

(c)

ENSURING THAT THE NECESSARY DATA ARE COLLECTED FOR TAKING DECISIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND STANDARDS, AND DETERMINING WHETHER THESE STANDARDS ARE BEING ACHIEVED=

(D) CO-ORDINATING AND SUPERVISING THE MONITORING OF POLLUTION,

AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, APPLICATION WILL BE MADE FOR THE FUNDS NEEDED TO ENGAGE STAFF, WITH A VIEW TO SETTING UP THE UNIT TOWARDS THE END OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, THE UNIT WILL COMPRISE A DIRECTOR AND FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE RESPECTIVELY FOR AIR POLLUTION, WATER POLLUTION, NOISE POLLUTION, AND SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.

COMMENTING ON THE DECISION, MR. J.L. MARDEN, CHAIRMAN OF EPCOM, SAID HE IS VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ENDORSED THIS IMPORTANT EPCOM RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WILL DO MUCH TO STRENGTHEN POLLUTION CONTROL IN HONG KONG.

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