XN000022-1978-07-21 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1978

NEW COMMITTEE TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

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A NEW, HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT TAKES THE PLACE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (EPCOM) WHOSE TERM OF OFFICE ENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE NEW COMMITTEE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WILL BE HEADED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. DEREK JONES. ITS SHORT TITLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE EPCOM.

MR. JONES SAID: THE SLIGHT AMENDMENT TO THE TITLE STRESSES THE MORE POSITIVE ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY THE COMMITTEE IN FUTURE IN PROTECTING HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT,+

HE SAID, WHILE THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE HAD BEEN CONCERNED WITH FORMULATING RECOMMENDATIONS TO OVERCOME VARIOUS POLLUTION PROBLEMS, THE NEW COMMITTEE WOULD BE CONCERNED MORE WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES. A SERIES OF NEW ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, THE PRODUCT OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE RECENTLY, WERE NOW IN THE FINAL DRAFTING STAGE AND THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE MUCH INVOLVED IN SEEING THESE MEASURES PUT INTO PRACTICE.

MR. JONES SAID THE NEW EPCOM WILL HAVE A LARGER PROPORTION OF NON-GOVERNMENT MEMBERS THAN THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE AND THERE WOULD IN ADDITION BE A CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD MEET MONTHLY. THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL HELP TO FORM A BUSINESS-LIKE FOCAL POINT FOR THE COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES, MR. JONES SAID. SPECIALIST AD HOC COMMITTEES WOULD BE FORMED TO LOOK INTO PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN DETAIL AS THEY AROSE.

HE SAID THE PREVIOUS EPCOM HAD PROVIDED A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN POINTING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND PRODUCING SOUND AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ON THE MEANS OF TACKLING THEM. +WE ARE NOW ENTERING A NEW AND SIGNIFICANT PHASE, HOWEVER IN WHICH WE ARE BECOMING MORE CONCERNED WITH GETTING THINGS DONE IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HE SAID.

MR. JONES SAID THAT, AS A NUMBER OF THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS WOULD AFFECT INDUSTRY, REPRESENTATIVES

OF INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS WERE BEING APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION ON THEIR DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION.

+THE NEW EPCOM WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE NEW POWER STATION PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY,+ HE ADDED, AND THEY WOULD BE SIMILARLY CONCERNED WITH ALL MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAD AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. +

/MEMBERS