XN000022-1978-10-22 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1978

RESEARCHERS CONTRIBUTE TO A CLEANER MARINE ENVIRONMENT

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ALMOST DAILY A TEAM OF FOUR SCIENTISTS SET SAIL AROUND THE HARBOUR AND BEYOND ON ASSIGNMENT TO MONITOR THE QUALITY OF HONG KONG'S TERRITORIAL WATERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND MARINE LIFE.

THE SCIENTISTS ARE GOVERNMENT RESEARCH OFFICERS FROM THE MARINE POLLUTION SECTION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WHOSE WORK HAS CONTRIBUTED TO A CLEANER MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THE TEAM HAS CARRIED OUT NUMEROUS MARINE SURVEYS AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING PHYTOPLANKTON SAMPLING, SEABED SURVEY AND STUDY OF TOXIC METAL LOADS IN MARINE ORGANISMS.

REPORTS OF THEIR FINDINGS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL BRANCH FOR STUDY.

COMMENTING ON THE QUALITY OF OUR COASTAL WATERS, THE RESEARCH TEAM LEADER, DR. G.B. THOMPSON, SAID IT VARIES FROM PLACE TO PLACE SOME AREAS ARE CLEAN AND SOME ARE NOT.

IN ADDITION TO ITS ROUTINE STUDY, THE MARINE POLLUTION SECTION ALSO ADVISES THE GOVERNMENT ON THE SELECTION OF DUMPING SITES, LOCATIONS OF POWER STATIONS AND DESALTER PLANT, IMPROVEMENT OF SEWAGE TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF OIL SPILLS.

THE SECTION, DR. THOMPSON SAID, WOULD CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE TWO LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TO CONTROL MARINE POLLUTION AND TO PROTECT HONG KONG WATERS FROM CONTAMINATION.

ESTABLISHED IN 1974, THE RESEARCH SECTION OPERATES FROM ABERDEEN AND HAS ITS OWN LABORATORY. TWO OF THE RESEARCHERS ARE LOCAL OFFICERS AND THE OTHER TWO ARE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE RESEARCHERS, FROM TIME TO TIME, ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS RELATING TO COASTAL POLLUTION CONTROL SO AS TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS FIELD.

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