XN000022-1977-09-05 — Page 2

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1977

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AIMS DEFINED

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EXISTING LEGISLATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION WOULD NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED AND EXTENDED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES THAT HAD OCCURRED IN RECENT TIMES AND LIKELY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FUTURE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISER, DR. STUART REED, SAID TODAY.

DR. REED WAS EXPLAINING TO MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA DURING A LUNCH MEETING THE ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT WHICH HE IS SETTING UP.

HE SAID THE BASIS FOR THE NEW LEGISLATION WOULD BE FORMED BY THE FINAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTANTS, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES LIMITED, TOGETHER WITH THE COMMENTS BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSING THE REPORT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THE NEW LEGISLATION, HE ADDED, WOULD BE SHEPHERDED THROUGH THE NECESSARY STAGES BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT, IN CONSULTATION WITH APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND INDUSTRY.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SWINGE ING RESTRICTIONS ON INDUSTRY. THE AIM WAS TO PLACE APPROPRIATE LIMITS ON NEW INDUSTRY WHERE CONTROL PROVISIONS COULD BE INCORPORATED AT THE DESIGN STAGE IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER, HE SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE STARTING POINT FOR DECIDING AT WHAT LEVEL EMISSION LIMITS SHOULD BE SET WOULD BE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY,

+THAT IS, WE SHALL SEEK TO ESTABLISH THE NATURAL ABSORPTIVE AND PURIFYING CAPACITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN VARIOUS AREAS AND FOR THE SPECIFIC POLLUTANT IN QUESTION AND WORK BACKWARDS FROM THIS TO DETERMINE WHAT TOTAL EMISSION LOAD FROM EXISTING AND PROJECTED INDUSTRY CAN BE ALLOWED BEFORE THE NATURAL PURIFYING AND ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS OVERLOADED AND POLLUTION BUILDS UP TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL.

+THUS THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT LIMITS IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF HONG KONG, AND IT IS IN THIS SENSE THAT THE CONTROLS WILL BE FLEXIBLE, HE SAID.

BESIDES LEGISLATION AND OVERALL POLICY DEVELOPMENT, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT ALSO EMBRACE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLANNING AND MONITORING, DR. REED EXPLAINED.

PROTECTION PLANNING, A POSITIVE TECHNICAL CONTRIBUTION AT THE DESIGN STAGE OF MAJOR PROJECTS,+ IS THE APPROACH WHICH WILL PRODUCE THE GREATEST ENVIRONMENTAL GAINS IN THE LONG RUN, DR. REED SAID.

/HE ELABORATED