XN000022-1983-05-20 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1983

STIFFER FINE SOUGHT FOR WATER POLLUTION

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THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO DOUBLE THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR PEOPLE GUILTY OF POLLUTING THE WATER FORMING PART OF THE WATERWORKS.

THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN THE WATERWORKS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE EXISTING MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE CARRIES A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS. THE BILL PROPOSES TO RAISE THE FINE TO $20 000. BUT THE MAXIMUM PRISON TERM OF TWO YEARS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING FINE HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1974.

+ IT IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE PENALTY WHICH HAS BEEN ERODED BY INFLATION OVER THE YEARS, HE SAID.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO DOUBLE THE EXISTING MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000 FOR BREACHING ANY REGULATION MADE UNDER SECTION 37 OF THE WATERWORKS ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 25). IF PASSED, IT WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS TO THE WATERWORKS REGULATIONS.

SCHEME TO IMPROVE WATER TRANSFER SYSTEM *****

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) APPOINTED BINNIE AND PARTNERS (H.K.) TO EXAMINE AND IMPLEMENT A SCHEME TO IMPROVE THE WATER TRANSFER SYSTEM IN THE NORTH EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE AGREEMENT FOR THE APPOINTMENT WAS SIGNED THIS MORNING BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS, BINNIE AND PARTNERS (H.K.).

THE SCHEME, WHICH FORMS PART OF A PROJECT FOR THE RECEPTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ADDITIONAL WATER FROM CHINA, COMPRISES AN ADDITIONAL PUMPING STATION AT TAI MEI TUK AND A PUMPING STATION AT HARBOUR ISLAND, WITH THE ASSOCIATED DELIVERY AQUEDUCTS RUNNING ACROSS TOLO HARBOUR TO PAK KONG IN SAI KUNG.

THE TRANSFER SYSTEM WILL HAVE A DAILY CAPACITY OF 682 000 CUBIC METRES OF SUPPLY TO THE PROPOSED PAK KONG TREATMENT WORK, WHILE THE ADDITIONAL PUMPING STATION IN TAI MEI TUK WILL BRING THE DRAW-OFF CAPACITY FROM PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR TO NOT LESS THAN 1 600 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY.

CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN 1984 AND WILL TAKE ABOUT THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE.

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