THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1981
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AND THE WELL WATER IN MOST PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IS REPORTED TO BE SO CONTAMINATED THAT IT IS NOT POTABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATIONS.
DR HO WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT SOME 100 000 WELL USERS ARE EXPOSED TO HEALTH HAZARDS FROM CONSUMING THE GROSSLY CONTAMINATED WELL WATER.
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECOLOGICAL POINTS OF VIEW, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE REMEDIAL MEASURES TO AMELIORATE THE SITUATION.
+SUCH MEASURES MAY INCLUDE MAKING LOANS AVAILABLE TO FARMS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SET UP AGRICULTURAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS SUCH AS 'BIOGAS' PLANTS.
*THE VILLAGERS MAY ALSO BE TAUGHT TO USE CHICKEN MANURE TO GROW BLOODWORMS, WHICH ARE IN GREAT DEMAND BY THE TROPICAL FISH INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
+A MORE EFFICIENT REFUSE AND ANIMAL WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO DISCOURAGE DUMPING OF ALL KINDS INTO THE INLAND WATER COURSES.+
PRIORITY SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO PROVIDE METERED WATER OR PUBLIC STANDPIPES TO AS MANY RURAL COMMUNITIES AND VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.
AS REGARDS THE POST OF THE HEAD OF THE WATER QUALITY SECTION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WHICH HAS BEEN LEFT VACANT SINCE APRIL, DR HO HOPED IT WOULD NOT GIVE RISE TO THE PUBLIC CONCERN THAT THE NEWLY GENERATED MEMENTUM IN WATER POLLUTION CONTROL HAS DISAPPEARED,
HE WARNED THAT TOO READY A RELIANCE ON CONSULTANTS AND CONTRACT OFFICERS FROM OVERSEAS MAY ENTAIL ONLY TEMPORARY BENEFITS.
+ IF WE WANT TO ENSURE AN ON-GOING ACHIEVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, WE MUST BUILD UP A CONTINGENT OF OUR OWN LOCAL TALENTS EQUIPPED WITH THE APPROPRIATE APTITUDE AND TRAINING IN THIS FIELD OF KNOWLEDGE.
+THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO STEP UP ITS EDUCATIONAL AND PROMOTION EFFORTS FOR THIS RELATIVELY NEW CAREER, HE SAID.
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