XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

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REASONABLENESS IN DEGREE OF CLEAN AIR STRESSED

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THE MAIN AIM OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL 1982 IS TO ENSURE A REASONABLE DEGREE OF CLEAN AIR ACCORDING TO THE DICTATE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, HE ADDED THAT THE LEVEL OF CONTROL AND PROHIBITION SHOULD THEREFORE ONLY BE THAT WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE THAT AIM.

+THE DEGREE OF REASONABLENESS' IS RELATIVE TO CIRCUMSTANCES.

+ONE CANNOT EXPECT CITY AIR TO BE AS CLEAN AS COUNTRY AIR. THE SOURCE OF POLLUTION IN INDUSTRIAL TOWNS IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL AREAS,+ HE SAID.

IN RECOGNITION OF THIS, PART II OF THE BILL PROVIDED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AIR CONTROL ZONES AND AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES.

+CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE CONSULTATION AND TO MONITOR PUBLIC REACTION TO ITS APPLICATION. CHANGES WHERE NECESSARY SHOULD BE PROMPTLY INTRODUCED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE,+ HE SAID.

MR YEUNG SAID POLLUTION FROM AREA SOURCES WAS GENERALLY CONTROLLED BY PART 1 OF THE BILL WHICH DEALT WITH THE ABATEMENT OF AIR POLLUTANT NUISANCES, EXTENDING THE PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE CHEMICALS AND EMISSIONS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH.

THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE BILL WOULD CAST A VERY WIDE NET AND WOULD AFFECT NOT ONLY RESTAURANTS AND SMALL FACTORIES BUT ALSO HOUSEWIVES, HAWKERS, FARMERS AND NEARLY EVERYBODY.

+ IT IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE THAT ITS PROVISIONS SHOULD BE SPECIFIC AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE APPLIED FAIRLY, TAK I NG INTO ACCOUNT ALL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS.

* IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS, MUCH TIME AND EFFORT HAS BEEN SPENT BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN EXAMINING THIS PART OF THE BILL.

+ALTHOUGH MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES WILL BE MOVING AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, ONE CAN NEVER BE CERTAIN THAT THE RIGHT BALANCE HAS BEEN STRUCK, HE SAID,

MR YEUNG STRESSED THAT VIGILANCE WAS REQUIRED TO MONITOR PROGRESS.

ON POLLUTION FROM POINT SOURCES, HE SAID LARGE SCALE EMITTERS, SUCH AS MUNICIPAL INCINERATORS, POWER AND CEMENT PLANTS WOULD POSE THE MOST SERIOUS POLLUTION THREAT AND THE COST FOR REDUCING POLLUTION FROM THIS SOURCE ALONE WOULD BE VERY HIGH.

/MR YEUNG