XN000022-1976-09-27 — Page 3

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1976

+RIGID ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, WHILE THEORETICALLY EASIER TO ENFORCE, HAVE IN PRACTICE PROVED UNWORKABLE IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CAPACITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO ABSORB POLLUTION AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND THE ABILITY OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES TO IMPROVE EFFLUENT QUALITY, HE STATED.

+HENCE A RIGID STANDARD COULD BE UNNECESSARILY SEVERE FOR ONE AREA WHILE BEING INSUFFICIENT TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN ANOTHER, AND MAY PERMIT ONE INDUSTRY TO POLLUTE MORE THAN IT NEEDS WHILE PUTTING ANOTHER INDUSTRY OUT OF BUSINESS.

+THE PROPOSED FLEXIBLE SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE GOVERNMENT WITH THE POWERS TO IMPOSE CONTROLS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED AND JUSTIFIED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT NOT ONLY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS BUT ALSO ECONOMIC REALITIES AND THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, + HE ADDED.

MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT WENT ON TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FUTURE PLANS TO COMBAT POLLUTION.

THEY INCLUDE :-

* THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO COMPOSTING PLANTS AND A HIGH

DENSITY BALING PLANT TO DEAL WITH SOL ID WASTE,

*

THE EXTENSION OF THE HARBOUR CLEANSING SERVICE AND

* THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SHALLOW DRAUGHT VESSEL TO TACKLE

OIL POLLUTION IN INSHORE WATERS.

ON CONSERVATION OF COUNTRYSIDE, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID: +BECAUSE OF HONG KONG'S PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, IT IS CLEAR THAT WE NEED MUCH OF THE AVAILABLE FLAT LAND FOR HOUSING AND LIVING.+

HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE REST MUST BE PRESERVED FOR RECREATION AND ENJOYMENT OF THE MASSES.

TO BEGIN WITH, MR. ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT SAID, COUNTRY PARKS WERE NOT BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE MORE ACCESSIBLE ÁREAS.

HE ADDED THAT THE AIM WAS TO BRING, EVENTUALLY, THE WHOLE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE UNDER SOME FORM OF MANAGEMENT SO THAT THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE MASSES OF PEOPLE VISITING THE COUNTRYS IDE COULD BE ADEQUATELY DEALT WITH.

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