XN000022-1979-08-11 — Page 3

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1979

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HE ALSO REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS BUILDING A SMALL SETTLEMENT TANK ON A STREAM-COURSE IN THE SAME AREA TO SEE WHETHER THIS METHOD CAN BE USED ELSEWHERE AS ANOTHER WAY OF DEALING WITH EFFLUENT FROM THE FARMS AND ANALYSING WAYS TO KEEP ONE OF THE MOST HEAVILY POLLUTED AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CLEAN AND FREE FROM RUBBISH.

BUT HE ADDED +NO AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION CAN PRODUCE THE ENVIRONMENT WE WANT UNLESS THERE IS A WILL AMONG THE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE LEGISLATION, UNLESS IT IS BACKED BY PRACTICAL AND, IN MANY CASES, SIMPLE MEASURES.+

THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT NO LESS THAN $4 MILLION ON EXPERT ADVICE ON THE LANDSCAPING OF THE NEW TOWNS, HE SAID.

+A LANDSCAPE STUDY TELLS US HOW WE CAN MAKE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF OUR DENSELY POPULATED TOWNS AS PLEASANT AS POSSIBLE, GIVEN THE PLANNING CONSTRAINTS OF HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT AND HIGH-RISE LIVING.

+IT TELLS US HOW TO TURN OUR STREETS INTO ATTRACTIVE PLACES FOR PEDESTRIANS IT TELLS US WHAT TREES TO PLANT AND WHERE TO PLANT THEM HOW WE CAN POSITION OUR BUILDINGS AND DESIGN OUR PARKS SO THAT THEY WILL GIVE THE MOST PLEASURE TO THE PEOPLE.+

THOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY YET TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES, MR. AKERS-JONES GAVE HIS ASSURANCE THAT THE ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THE NEW TOWNS ARE DETERMINED TO FOLLOW THE PROPOSALS IN THESE STUDIES.

HE REVEALED THAT THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL TEAM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF EACH TOWN TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS AND THAT A CAREFUL STUDY ON THE NUMBER OF TREES AND PLANTS AND SHRUBS WHICH WOULD BE NEEDED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS HAD BEEN COMPLETED,

THE FOUR-DAY FORUM WAS ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH ENVIRONMENT ACTION GROUP OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION.

THE THEME IS +LOOK OUT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND ITS OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE TRANSMITTANCE OF BASIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPT, THE SPREAD OF MASS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND AROUSING OF YOUTH'S RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION.

HUNDREDS OF UPPER-FORM STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS SECONDARY

SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG TOOK PART IN THE EVENT.

APART FROM MR. AKERS-JONES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. G. BARNES, WAS ALSO INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.