XN000022-1980-06-06 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 1980

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WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROPOSALS

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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S STREAMS, NULLAHS AND TERRITORIAL WATERS ARE NOT POLLUTED - AND THAT THOSE WATERWAYS THAT ARE DETERIORATING ARE CLEANED UP.

THE NECESSARY REGULATORY MEASURES ARE INCORPORATED IN THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL BILL 1980, TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE NEXT FRIDAY,

THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL, SAID A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN, IS TO PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH SPECIFIC CONTROLS TO DÍMINISH THE POLLUTION OF THE STREAMS, RIVERS AND TERRITORIAL WATERS COULD BE APPLIED.

HE SAID, THE NEED TO LIMIT, AND IN SOME CASES DIMINISH, THE LEVEL OF POLLUTION IN THE WATERS, BOTH INLAND AND MARINE, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY A SERIES OF CONSULTANTS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN PAST YEARS.+

FURTHER DELAYS IN TACKLING THE PROBLEM, HE SAID, COULD MAKE IT INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO INTRODUCE THE NECESSARY CONTROLS WITHOUT UNDULY AFFECTING EXISTING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.

THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DEVISED A DETERMINED AND POSITIVE APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN PREPARING THE DRAFT LEGISLATION CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION HAD BEEN PAID TO THE NEED TO CREATE A BALANCE BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS,

HE EXPLAINED, IT IS TRUE THAT THE TERMS OF THE DRAFT BILL ARE GENEROUS IN TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY, BUT IT IS FELT THAT A SATISFACTORY BALANCE HAS BEEN STRUCK.+

THE MAIN PROVISIONS ARE 1

* THE GOVERNOR, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DECLARE ANY PART OF HONG KONG WATERS A WATER CONTROL ZONE. THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THEN WOULD ESTABLISH WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES, AND ZONAL AUTHORITIES WOULD NEED TO ENSURE THEŠE OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED AND MAINTAINED.

* CONTROL OVER DISCHARGES AND DEPOSITS INTO ANY

PARTICULAR ZONE WOULD BE PROVIDED BY REQUIRING THOSE ALREADY DISCHARGING EFFLUENT TO OBTAIN AN EXEMPTION FOR THEIR DISCHARGE. FUTURE DISCHARGES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO CAREFUL SCRUTINY AND WOULD REQUIRE A LICENCE.

THE PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO OBTAIN A LICENCE BY A SPECIFIED DATE WOULD BE A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50 000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE, $100 000 FOR A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE, AND A FURTHER FINE OF $500 DAILY IF THE OFFENCE WAS PROVED TO BE A CONTINUING ONE,

THE SPOKESMAN