XN000022-1981-12-11 — Page 13

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1981

12.

DUMPING FROM VEHICLES CAN COST $5 000 AND JAIL TERM

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LITTER OFFENDERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NOW FACE A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 AND A JAIL SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS UNDER - NEW LEGISLATION THAT CAME INTO FORCE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE NEW LAW ALSO EXTENDS THE LIABILITY OF DUMPING LITTER AND #ASTE FROM GOODS VEHICLES TO THE REGISTERED OWNER OR HIRER OF THE GOODS VEHICLE IN CASES WHERE THE OFFENDING DRIVER CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED.

THE NEW LEGISLATION COMES UNDER THE PUBLIC CLEANSING AND PREVENTION OF NUISANCES (NEW TERRITORIES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE GAZETTED TODAY.

+THE AMENDMENT WILL OBIVATE THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IF PROSECUTION IS INSTITUTED, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

PROVISIONS IN THE OLD REGULATIONS HAD BEEN INSUFFICIENT TO COPE WITH THE GROWING PROBLEMS OF LITTER AND WASTE BEING DEPOSITED BY THE DRIVERS OF GOODS VEHICLES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

RECKLESS DRIVERS OF GOODS VEHICLES HAVE IN THE PAST CONSTANTLY AND INDISCRIMINATELY DUMPED LORRY-LOADS OF BUILDING RUBBLE ANT TRADE WASTE OUTSIDE PERMITTED AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MORE THAN 2 000 CUBIC METRES OF SUCH BULKY WASTE WERE REMOVED FROM HIGHWAYS, ROADSIDE AND OPEN SPACES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS BY THE HIGHWAYS (NEW TERRITORIES) DIVISION AND THE NTSD WORKERS.

PREVIOUSLY IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO CATCH THE DRIVER IN THE ACT OF ACTUALLY DUMPING THE LITTER.

LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFF NOW HAVE WIDER POWERS TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST REGISTERED OWNERS OR HIRERS OF GOODS VEHICLES BY NOTING THE REGISTERED NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE.

HOWEVER, THE REGISTERED OWNER OR HIRER OF THE VEHICLES WILL NOT BE CONVICTED IF HE PROVES THAT AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOLEN OR HAD BEEN TAKEN AWAY WITHOUT HIS CONSENT.

MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN URGED ALL GOODS VEHICLE DRIVERS TO MAKE USE OF DUMPING SITES SPECIALLY OPENED FOR THEM IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

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