XN000022-1977-06-15 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977

MOTOR-CYCLES NOT ALLOWED TO PRODUCE EXCESSIVE NOISE ******

THERE HAVE BEEN SIX PROSECUTIONS OF MOTOR-CYCLISTS SO FAR THIS YEAR FOR PRODUCING EXCESSIVE NOISE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON, WONG LAM TODAY.

HE ADDED THAT THE LAW RELATING TO NOISE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE MOTOR-CYCLES WAS ALSO ENFORCED BY EXAMINATION OF THEM BY MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTORS, FOLLOWED BY A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY BE REPAIRED WHEN DEFECTS WERE DISCOVERED.

DURING 1975, 1,446 MOTOR-CYCLES WERE SO EXAMINED IN RESPECT OF VARIOUS SUSPECTED DEFECTS, HE SAID, WHILE THE NUMBER OF EXAMINATIONS IN 1976 WAS 1,023.

+MANY OF THE MOTOR-CYCLES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXAMINED WERE FOUND TO HAVE DEFECTIVE SILENCERS, HE NOTED.

POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT

******

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO PRODUCE A GREEN PAPER ON POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AT PRESENT, BUT DOES NOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT MAY BE DESIRABLE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

SPEAKING IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (EPCOM) HAD MADE A NUMBER OF STUDIES OF THE NEED FOR POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN HONG KONG.

ALSO, HE SAID, CONSULTANTS WERE ENGAGED IN DECEMBER 1974 TO ADVISE ON THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS, INCLUDING LEGISLATION- AND THEIR FINAL REPORT WAS TO BE EXPECTED NEXT MONTH.

HE ADDED THAT A HIGHLY QUALIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISER WOULD ARRIVE NEXT MONTH TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT RECOMMENDED BY THE CONSULTANTS, WHICH WOULD ADVISE HIM AND THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED ON ALL ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

+ALTHOUGH A FAIR AMOUNT OF PREPARATORY WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THE MEASURES NECESSARY TO COMBAT POLLUTION AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT ARE ONLY IN A FORMATIVE STAGE.

+WHEN THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN STUDIED AND PROPOSALS FORMULATED THERE WILL THEN BE EXTENSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES.

+ THEREAFTER, THE CVERN

THE OVERVET VILL CONSIDER WHETHER IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ISSUE A GREEN PER BEFORE DETAILED LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ARE PUT TO THIS COUNCIL,+. R. JONES DAID.

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