XN000022-1979-10-30 — Page 4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1979

THE INTENSIVE TRAINING COURSE WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPATING PHYSICIANS TO TAKE A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HONG KONG'S MULTI-MODALITY TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES AND TO DISCUSS THEM WITH THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS STAFF OF THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED. THE COURSE ENDS ON NOVEMBER 28 THIS YEAR.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO BE STRENGTHENED

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THE GOVERNMENT MUST SEEK TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE EXPANSION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THE GOVERNMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISER, DR. STUART REED SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

+WHAT WE HAVE TO PERFORM IS SOME SORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCING ACT' WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT THE INCREASING BENEFITS AND THE HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING THAT WE ALL HOPE, AND MANY EXPECT, WILL FLOW FROM THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN HONG KONG, WILL NOT BE HARRED BY A STEADILY DETERIORATING ENVIRONMENT, HE TOLD A LUNCHEON GIVEN BY THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.

+AN IMPORTANT AID TO GOVERNMENT IN CARRYING OUT THE 'ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCING ACT' IS THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS. IN ORDER TO WIDEN THIS PROCESS OF CONSULTATION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) WAS STRENGTHENED DURING ITS 1978/79 TERM BY THE INCLUSION OF NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, HE SAID.

PRIOR TO THAT, EPCOM HAD BEEN MADE UP SOLELY OF OFFICIALS ON THE ONE HAND AND ON THE OTHER PEOPLE DRAWN FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WHO WERE APPOINTED TO EPCOM IN A PURELY PERSONAL CAPACITY.

DR. REED FELT THAT THIS INNOVATION HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THE NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS HAD STRUCK A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN PUTTING FORWARD FORCEFULLY. THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES LIKELY TO BE FACED BY

INDUSTRIALISTS IN MEETING THE NEW POLLUTION CONTROL REQUIREMENTS WHILST AT THE SAME TIME ACKNOWLEDGING THE WIDER INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

HE HOPED THAT THE COMPOSITION OF FIVE NEW EPCOM SPECIAL COMMITTEES COULD BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. THESE COMMITTEES WOULD WIDEN FURTHER THE CONSULTATION PROCESS AND INCLUDE A GREATER NUMBER OF NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES BOTH FROM INDUSTRY AND FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL LOBBY.

+A MAJOR PREOCCUPATION OF THESE COMMITTEES+, HE SAID WILL BE THE DETAILED REGULATIONS WHICH FLOW FROM THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BILLS WHICH ARE NOW BEING FORMULATED.

HE OBSERVED THAT A STATUTORY PROVISION WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THESE BILLS TO THE EFFECT THAT EPCOM MUST BE CONSULTED BEFORE ANY NEW REGULATIONS ARE PROMULGATED.

/DR. REED