XN000022-1982-09-25 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1982

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES

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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR G.J. OSBORNE AS DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES TO HEAD THE NEW ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

MR OSBORNE IS 53 YEARS OLD. HE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN 1960 AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN THE THEN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HIS CAREER TO DATE HAS BEEN SPENT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FIELDS. HE WAS UNTIL HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FORMER ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE.

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MUCH PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

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THE GOVERNMENT IS DEVOTING A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF ITS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WORK TO THE ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL SITES FOR MAJOR NEW SOURCES OF POLLUTING EMISSIONS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SPEAKING AT A SYMPOSIUM ON DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN CHINA AND HONG KONG+ AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, DR REED SAID THE INITIAL SELECTION OF A SITE FOR A MAJOR NEW SOURCE OF POLLUTING EMISSIONS IS ALWAYS THE KEY STEP IN THE SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION OF SUCH EMISSIONS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.

+WHAT IS ENCOURAGING+, HE CONTINUED, +IS THE INCREASING TENDENCY FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO BE REFERRED TO THE EPA AT THE EARLIEST STAGE SO THAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE INCORPORATED AT THE OUTSET.+

+ALREADY, THROUGH THIS PROCESS, MUCH HAS BEEN DONE BY THE EPA TO AVOID WIDESPREAD AND INTRACTABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS DEVELOPING IN THE FUTURE,+ DR REED CLAIMED.

CITING EXAMPLES TO BACK UP THIS CLAIM, DR REED DESCRIBED THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE TAP SHEK KOK POWER STATION, DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS IN TOLO HARBOUR AND JUNK BAY, AND PLANNING FOR THE DISPOSAL OF THE INCREASING QUANTITIES OF SOLID WASTES BEING PRODUCED EACH DAY IN THE TERRITORY.

TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, THE EPA HAS INITIATED EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMMES COVERING WATER AND AIR QUALITY, NOISE, WASTE ARISINGS AND RECYCLING.

BUT DA REED POINTED OUT IT IS NO GOOD JUST MONITOR ING LEVELS OF POLLUTION OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.

/+THOUGH THIS