XN000022-1979-07-06 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1979

NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION

PROPOSED TO CONTROL THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE COLLECTION, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF ALL TYPES OF SOLID AND SEMI-SOL *) WASTE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE WASTE DISPOSAL BILL 1979, GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY), WAS THE FIRST OF FIVE BILLS AIMED AT PROVIDING BETTER PROTECTION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. FURTHER LEGISLATIVE MEASURES, CONCERNING AIR, WATER AND NOISE POLLUTION, AND

REQUIREMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS, ARE PLANNED FOR INTRODUCTION WITHIN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT A WASTE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE PROPOSED BILL, WOULD ADVISE THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE URBAN COUNCIL WHERE CONCERNED, ON A COMPREHENSIVE WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN AND THE FORMULATION OF CODES OF PRACTICE.

THE WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN OR ANY REVISION OF THIS PLAN WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY BE GAZETTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE MAIN AIM OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, HOWEVER IS TO ENSURE THE SAFE DISPOSAL OF WASTES, IN PARTICULAR THOSE OF A HAZARDOUS OR TOXIC NATURE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED IN RECENT MONTHS ABOUT THE THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY CAUSED BY THE INDISCRIMINATE DISPOSAL OF WASTE SUBSTANCES AND THE BILL REFLECTS THIS CONCERN BY REQUIRING PROSPECTIVE DISPOSERS OF CERTAIN PRESCRIBED WASTES TO DISPOSE OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LICENCE CONDITIONS DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

OFFENDERS WILL BE LIABLE TO FINES OF UP TO $50,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE AND $100,000 FOR THE SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE.

THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT TOXIC WASTES MAY BE BROUGHT INTO HONG KONG FOR DISPOSAL PURPOSES, AND THEREBY CREATE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, AN INTENDING IMPORTER MUST OBTAIN A LICENCE BEFORE BRINGING THE WASTE INTO HONG KONG, UNLESS THE SUBSTANCE IS BEING IMPORTED FOR A MANUFACTURING PROCESS. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN A FINE OF UP TO $50,000.

THERE WILL BE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF THESE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL TO MATCH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE RELEVANT DETAILED REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE BILL.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL ALSO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ANY LAND FOR WASTE DISPOSAL WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, UNLESS SUCH LAND IS A CONTROLLED TIP, OR THE SUBSTANCE IS INE: MATERIAL USED FOR LANDFILL, OR A SUBSTANCE BEING USS IN

OF AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL OPERATI

THE COL

OPSKOLAN