XN000022-1982-10-13 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1982

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HONG KONG-SHENZHEN WORKING GROUP HOLDS DISCUSSION

***

THIS MORNING, THE SHENZHEN DELEGATION AND THE HONG KONG TEAM HAD A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE FOUR WORKING GROUPS SET UP UNDER THE AGREEMENT SIGNED ON APRIL 30, 1982,

BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT GOOD PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE AND EXPRESSED SATISFACTION AT THE CLOSE COOPERATION AND GOOD WORK ING RELATIONSHIPS IN THE WORKING GROUPS.

THE VARIOUS PROJECTS UNDER DISCUSSION ARE LIKELY TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TIMESCALE SET OUT IN THE AGREEMENT. SOME ADDITIONAL SUB-GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED TO EXAMINE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSALS. IT WAS AGREED THAT THE COORDINATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF LO WU AND SHENZHEN STATIONS REQUIRED A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP: THIS GROUP WILL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EARLY NOVEMBER.

IT WAS ALSO AGREED TO HAVE A FURTHER MEETING TO REVIEW PROGRESS IN SIX MONTHS' TIME.

GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO COMBAT POLLUTION ***

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ASSURED A GROUP OF POLLUTION CONTROL EXPERTS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO COMBAT POLLUTION AND TO MAKE HONG KONG A PLEASANT PLACE TO LIVE IN.

MR BRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR ON +LEGISLATION ON LIQUID AND SOLID WASTE POLLUTION CONTROL IN HONG KONG

MR BRAY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING ABOUT $3.6 BILLION ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT ON WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND $500 MILLION EACH YEAR ON THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTES,

HE POINTED OUT THAT HAVING RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR CONTROLLING POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONED CONSULTANTS IN DECEMBER 1974 TO CARRY OUT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE LEGAL AND ORGANISATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT. THE CONSULTANTS SUBMITTED A FINAL REPORT IN JULY 1977.

SINCE 1977, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROCEEDED ON SETTING UP THE LEGAL AND ORGANISATIONAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE FUTURE PROTECTION OF HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT CAN BE DEALT WITH ON AN EFFECTIVE BASIS.

/MR BRAY