XN000022-1982-03-27 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1982

INDIVIDUAL'S ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STRESSED

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EACH INDIVIDUAL IN THE COMMUNITY CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ENSURING A MORE HEALTHY AND PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG, THE COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

+THERE ARE, OF COURSE, MANY ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WHERE THE ONLY PRACTICABLE WAY TO ENSURE THAT SOME NECESSARY MEASURE IS INTRODUCED IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF TO DO THE JOB+, HE SAID.

+SUCH THINGS AS LEGISLATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MOST MONITORING ACTIVITIES COME ÎNTO THIS CATEGORY.+

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF LECTURES ON THE ENVIRONMENT ORGANISED BY THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

+BUT THERE ARE OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT+, HE CONTINUED, +WHERE EFFECTIVE ACTION IS LARGELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL EITHER ACTING ON HIS OR HER OWN ACCOUNT OR BY PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK OF A BODY SUCH AS THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION.+

DR REED SUGGESTED THAT THE INDIVIDUAL'S CONTRIBUTION COULD BE SUMMED UP ON THE ONE HAND AS BEING CONSIDERATE TOWARDS ONE'S NEIGHBOUR IN RELATION TO SUCH THINGS AS SMOKING AND NOISY ACTIVITIES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND AS SHOWING CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF NOT LITTERING OR DAMAGING THE FLORA AND FAUNA IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.

HE PRAISED THE WORK OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION IN THE FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOLS CONSERVANCY CLUBS LIAISON BOARD.

+THE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN AN EFFECTIVE LOBBY ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS IN HONG KONG FOR MANY YEARS, AND THIS WAS RECENTLY RECOGNISED WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF A CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) AND TO EPCOM'S SPECIAL COMMITTEES,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT, DR REED EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR PLANNING AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES IF THE ENVIRONMENT IS TO BE PROTECTED.

+MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED RECENTLY ON LEGISLATION AND THE ASSOCIATED PUNITIVE PROVISIONS, BUT THIS IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY, HE SAID.

HE SAID. HE EXPLAINED THAT A LARGE PART OF THE EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S NEWLY-CREATED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) IS BEING DEVOTED TO SAFEGUARDING HONG KONG'S FUTURE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS AND THROUGH THE AGENCY'S INVOLVEMENT IN CONSULTATIONS ON OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STUDIES.

*WITHOUT THIS WORK WE WOULD BE IN DANGER OF CREATING EACH DAY THE PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

/CITING THE