XN000022-1981-10-07 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981

REFERRING TO THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW WHICH STUDIED THE LEGISLATION DEALING WITH RENT CONTROLS, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE REMAINED TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT.

+LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED THIS SESSION, TO ESTABLISH A TRIBUNAL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE REASONABLE SECURITY OF TENURE TO TENANTS OF PREMISES NOT OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY THE ORDINANCE AND WHO ARE PREPARED TO PAY A FAIR MARKET RENT, ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR SUB-TENANCIES, AND SAFEGUARDS WITH REGARD TO THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CONTROLLED PREMISES, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

NEW LAWS TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT

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NEW LAWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL BE INTRODUCED DURING THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THESE WILL COVER AIR POLLUTION, ILLEGAL DUMPING OF EARTH AND TRADE WASTE, AND THE PROVISION OF REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS IN CERTAIN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS.

SIR MURRAY SAID REGULATIONS GOVERNING DISPOSAL OF TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTES SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO FORCE DURING THIS SESSION, AND WORK IS ALSO CONTINUING ON THE DRAFTING OF A NOISE CONTROL BILL.

POLLUTION IN HONG KONG HAD GROWN RAPIDLY, PARTICULARLY WATER POLLUTION, HE SAID, AND AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE BECOMING PAINFULLY AWARE OF WHAT IS AT STAKE.

THE FIRST STEP HAD BEEN TO ENGAGE EXPERTS TO EXAMINE - OUR PROBLEMS AND ADVISE ON SUITABLE LEGISLATION. THIS COMPLICATED PROCESS IS FAR ADVANCED, HE SAID, NOTING THAT THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCES WERE ENACTED LAST YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE, SCIENTIFIC DATA AND CO-ORDINATION ON ALL ASPECTS OF POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL.

+WITH THIS LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUNDWORK DONE. THE DIFFICULT WORK OF ENFORCEMENT OF CAREFULLY PHASED PLANS OF POLLUTION CONTROL WILL GRADUALLY GATHER MOMENTUM.+

TO MARK THIS NEW PHASE, HE ADDED, THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT ON COMMITTEE HAD BEEN RESTORED TO AN UNOFFICIAL, IN THIS CASE MR H.M.G. FORSGATE.

SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT SOME 408 SQUARE KILOMETRES, NEARLY HALF THE TERRITORY, HAD BEEN DESIGNATED AS COUNTRY PARKS, WITH A STAFF OF OVER 1 330 TO PRESERVE THE AREAS NATURAL BEAUTY AND TO ENCOURAGE ENJOYMENT AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.

UP TO 100 000 PEOPLE MADE USE OF THE COUNTRY PARKS ON WEEKENDS IN THE DRY WEATHER.