XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1982

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AIR POLLUTION BILL CAREFULLY CONSIDERED'

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY TODAY DESCRIBED THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL 1982 AS AN ESSENTIAL AND CAREFULLY CONSTRUCTED MEASURE, BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE INTERESTS OF THE ECONOMY+.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BRAY SAID AIR POLLUTION IN HONG KONG WAS NOT GENERALLY AT AN UNSATISFACTORY LEVEL. HOWEVER, THERE WERE GAPS IN EXISTING LEGISLATION PARTLY FILLED AT PRESENT BY CONSULTATION AND ADVICE.

+THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL AIMS TO FILL IN GAPS IN EXISTING LEGISLATION AND TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONTROL OF THE GENERATION OF EXISTING AND NEW AIR POLLUTANTS FOR THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.

MR BRAY SAID THE BILL HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF THE MOST EXHAUSTIVE CONSULTATION BOTH WITH IN AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT AND THAT WAS WHY IT HAD TAKEN SO LONG TO GET TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL'S PROVISIONS, IN PARTICULAR, HAD BEEN EXTENSIVELY DEBATED IN EPCOM AND ITS SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AIR POLLUTION AND THE VIEWS OF INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS HAD BEEN REPRESENTED ON BOTH, HE SAID.

MR BRAY ALSO SAID THAT THE BILL, IN COMMON WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ORDINANCES, WOULD BE BINDING ON THE CROWN WHICH WOULD ADOPT THE SAME POLLUTION CONTROLS AS IT

IMPOSED ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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