XN000022-1982-09-10 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1982

DEALING WITH THE PRESSURE OF POLLUTION IN HONG KONG' ******

THE PRESSURE OF POLLUTION OF HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT WILL CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THAT, DR MICHAEL CHIU, A SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER TOLD MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG ROTARY CLUB OVER DINNER TONIGHT.

+WHILE THE POPULATION MAY GROW AND THE ECONOMY MAY EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO ABSORB THE INCREASING VOLUME OF WASTE AND POLLUTING EMISSIONS GENERATED BY SUCH ACTIVITIES REMAINS FIXED,+ DR CHIU WARNED.

BUT HE EXPLAINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THIS FOR SOME YEARS NOW, AND, IN 1976 SET UP THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING WATER, AIR, AND WASTE MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS NOISE.+ IT THEN EXPANDED THE UNIT IN 1980 INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, WHICH HAS SINCE GROWN INTO AN ESTABLISHMENT OF OVER 100 PERSONS, ABOUT 50 PER CENT OF WHOM ARE PROFESSIONALS.

DR CHIU SAID THAT WHILE THE AVERAGE PERSON GENERALLY THOUGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN TERMS OF +GREEN TREES AND BLUE WATERS+, THE ESSENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS TO PROTECT MAN HIMSELF, BESIDES THE NATURAL RESOURCES.

IN HIS TALK ON WATER POLLUTION CONTROL MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG', DR CHIU POINTED OUT THAT IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, EFFORT HAD BEEN SHENT IN DEALING WITH ANUMBER OF AREAS IN TERMS OF WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT.

THE PURPOSE OF ANY CONTROL LEGISLATION SHOULD AIM AT PREVENTING POLLUTION, RATHER THAN ONLY PROVIDING PENAL SANCTIONS, HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE ENACTED IN JULY 1980, DR CHIU SAID IT PROVIDES FOR THE DESIGNATION OF WATER CONTROL ZONES, THE DECLARATION OF WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND THE REGISTRATION OF EXISTING EMITTERS AND THE LICENSING OF NEW EMITTERS IN THE CONTROL ZONES.

TOLO HARBOUR WAS DESIGNATED THE FIRST WATER CONTROL ZONE

IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, HE SAID.

+ IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY FOR THIS ZONE HAS BEEN AGREED AND DETAILED REGULATION FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF IMPLEMENTATION IS IN DRAFT, DR CHIU SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES ARE DESIGNED TO BE SUFFICIENT TO PRESERVE THE BENEFICIAL USES OF DIFFERENT WATER BODIES.

/DR CHIU FURTHER