XN000022-1982-10-13 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1982

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+SINCE COMPREHENSIVE REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON LAND THE STRICT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROLLING FLOATING REFUSE DOES NOT LIE WITH ANY GOVERNMNENT DEPARTMENT AT ALL BUT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DUMP IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE STRESSED.

MR BRAY WAS REPLYING TO THE HON ANDREW SO WHO ASKED WHAT ACTION THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO CONTROL FLOATING REFUSE AND HOW THE RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER IS BEING SHARED AMONG GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

MR BRAY OUTLINED SIX PROGRAMMES TO PREVENT REFUSE FROM GETTING INTO THE SEA =

* DISCHARGES FROM SEWERS ARE SCREENED OF SOLIDS BY THE

ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

* OPEN NULLAHS ARE THE SUBJECT OF SPECIAL EFFORTS BY THE URBAN

SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

* SQUATTER AREA REFUSE CLEARANCE HAS RECENTLY BEEN STEPPED UP

BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

* THE PORT WORKS DIVISION ON THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT DOES ITS BEST TO STOP TIMBER AND OTHER REFUSE FROM FLOATING OFF FROM RECLAMATIONS.

* A FREE BOAT-TO-BOAT REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE IS OPERATED

IN FIVE TYPHOON SHELTERS BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

* A FREE REFUSE COLLECTION SERVICE IS PROVIDED TO ALL SHIPS

IN THE HARBOUR BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

MR BRAY SAID THAT WHILE ALL THESE OPERATIONS MADE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF REFUSE GETTING INTO THE SEA, THE AMOUNT OF FLOATING REFUSE AROUND THE HARBOUR SHOWED THEY WERE NOT COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL.

BUT HE ADDED, WE HAVE DONE ALL THE OBVIOUS THINGS BUT TO GO FURTHER IS LIKELY TO COST A GOOD DEAL.+

MR BRAY DISCLOSED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS PLANNING TO DO MORE SERIOUS RESEARCH TO FIND OUT WHERE FLOATING REFUSE COMES FROM, THE ROUTES IT FOLLOWS IN VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF WIND AND TIDE AND WHERE IT FINISHES UP.

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