XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

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BAN ON PYRAMID SELLING SUPPORTED

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THE HON PETER C. WONG SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE PYRAMID SELLING PROHIBITION BILL 1980 AT ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT THE EFFICACY OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION REMAINED TO BE TESTED,

*WITH EXPERIENCE FROM ACTUAL APPLICATION, AMENDMENTS WOULD NO DOUBT RECTIFY ANY DEFECTS THAT MIGHT BE FOUND TO EXIST, HE SAID.

AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIAL COUNCIL MEMBERS CONVENED BY HIM HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WHICH, HE SAID, CALLS FOR CLOSE SCRUTINY AS IT TREADS ON DELICATE GROUND+

+THE GROUP HAD A USEFUL SESSION WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

+SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE BILL WERE DISCUSSED AND THE GROUP IS SATISFIED THAT, GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE MATTER, GOVERNMENT HAS SUCCEEDED IN PRODUCING A BILL THAT SHOULD STOP THOSE NOW ENGAGED IN PYRAMID SELLING AND SERVE AS A DETERRENT TO THOSE CONTEMPLATING SUCH UNDESIRABLE ACTIVITIES, HE SAID.

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ZONES TO BE SET UP

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WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ZONES ARE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG TO CURB AN INCREASE IN POLLUTION. ACCORDING TO A NEW BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES, SAID THAT ONCE THE ZONES AND DATE ERE ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, IT WOULD BE A OFFENCE TO PERMIT ANY POISONOUS, NOXIOUS OR POLLUTING MATTER OF A SPECIFIC TYPE TO ENTER THE ZONES, UNLESS THE DISCHARGER HAD OBTAINED AN EXEMPTION PERMIT FROM THE WATER CONTROL AUTHORITY.

ANY PERSON WHO FAILED TO OBTAIN A PERMIT AND WHO DISCHARGED PROHIBITED DEPOSITS FACED A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $50 000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE, $100 000 FOR A SUBSEQUENT OFFENCE AND A FURTHER $5 000 DAILY IF THE OFFENCE WAS A CONTINUING ONE.

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MR JONES SAID EXISTING DISCHARGERS THOSE IN BUSINESS BEFORE THE APPOINTED DAY WOULD BE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE THE IR EMISSIONS, SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT ENDANGERING PUBLIC HEALTH AND PROVIDED THAT THEY DO NOT EXCEED BY MORE THAN 30 PER CENT THE LEVEL OF DISCHARGE RECORDED DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD PRECEDING THE FIRST APPOINTED DAY.+

/A SECOND