XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

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MR YEUNG SAID THAT PART IV OF THE BILL ATTEMPTED TO CONTAIN THE PRESENT LEVEL OF POLLUTION EMITTED BY EXISTING PLANTS AND TO CONTROL EMISSIONS FROM NEW SPECIFIED PROCESSES BY REQUIRING THEM TO APPLY FOR LICENCES.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT AIMED TO PURSUE ITS OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING AIR QUALITY BY IMPOSING CONDITIONS ON THE CONDUCT OF THESE PROCESSES. IT WOULD ALSO ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION OR VARIATION OF THE LICENCE.

+ IF GOVERNMENT IMPOSES TOO HIGH A STANDARD, THE COSTS TO ACHIEVE IT MAY BECOME PROHIBITIVE AND THEREBY STIFLE OUR ECONOMY.

+ON THE OTHER HAND IF TOO LOW A STANDARD IS SET, THE EMISSION MAY BE IN BREACH OF THE LAW UNDER PART II OR PART 1 OF THE BILL AND THE OPERATOR OF THE PLANT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH EMISSIONS, HE SAID.

FURTHERMORE, SPECIFIED PROCESSES OF LARGE SCALE PLANTS HAD AN ADVANTAGE OVER NON-SPECIFIED PROCESSES OF SMALL FACTORIES AND RESTAURANTS AS THIS BENEFIT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM, HE ADDED.

MR YEUNG URGED THAT WHEN THE BILL BECAME LAW, THE AUTHORITY SHOULD PROCEED WITH CIRCUMSPECTION IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL ONLY THE BEGINNING

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THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL, IF PASSED, WOULD ONLY BE

A BEGINNING, THE HON ANDREW SO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IT WOULD SERVE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR DRAWING UP FUTURE REGULATIONS THAT DEAL WITH PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF AIR POLLUTION SO THAT THE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES MAY FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS AND EXECUTE THE IR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY, MR SO SAID.

IN GIVING HIS SUPPORT TO THE BILL, MR SO, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNOFFICIALS' GENERAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP ON AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL, SAID HE APPRECIATED FULLY THE PRUDENT PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN STUDYING AND DEBATING THE BILL.

HE SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO CONTROL CERTAIN LARGE INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD POSE A MAJOR POLLUTION HAZARD THROUGH LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SPECIFIED PROCESSES+.

+AT THE SAME TIME IT AIMS TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTANT NUISANCE CAUSED BY CERTAIN SMALL INDUSTRIES AND OTHER SOURCES OF POLLUTION BY MEANS OF ABATEMENT NOTICES' PROCEDURES, HE ADDED.

MR SO SAID THAT THE BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL NEEDS AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS HAD TO BE BORNE IN MIND.

+ IN THE FIELD OF ENFORCEMENT, HE ADDED, + WE MUST TRY OUR BEST TO BE FAIR TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.+