XN000022-1983-06-05 — Page 7

SUNDAY, JUNE 5, 1983

THE FORTNIGHT WILL ALSO FEATURE EXHIBITIONS ON THE WORK OF MACS AND A JOINT-AREA MAC SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN THE WEST SUB- DISTRICTS.

BEFORE THE OPENING OF THE CARNIVAL, MR CHOK PERFORMED AN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY FOR A LION WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A LION DANCE, A CHINESE FOLK DANCE AND A SCHOOL BRASS BAND PERFORMANCE. ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR PEDRE CHING; THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PAUL WONG AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

AT TODAY'S CARNIVAL, RESIDENTS ENJOYED THEMSELVES AND WON MANY ATTRACTIVE SOUVENIRS AT THE 25 GAME STALLS.

PERENNIAL BATTLE AGAINST RIVER POLLUTION

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REMOVING REFUSE FROM RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FORMS PART OF THE DAILY CLEANSING OPERATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

+THOUGH THE WORK IS LITTLE PUBLICISED, IT HELPS REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING IN AREAS WHERE STREAMS AND RIVERS ARE CHOKED WITH REFUSE AND WEEDS,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID.

AT PRESENT, THE DEPARTMENT HAS 13 SIX-MAN TEAMS IN THE TWO DISTRICTS TO CARRY OUT THE DAILY OPERATION.

+BUT NO SOONER HAS REFUSE BEEN REMOVED THAN MORE IS BEING DUMPED INTO RIVERS AND STREAMS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOLID AGRICULTURAL WASTE IS HOSED DIRECTLY INTO THEM, AND THE SILT AND SOLID DEPOSITS ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS ARE NOW A MAJOR CAUSE OF FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS.

+THE PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED BY THE THOUGHTLESS DUMPING OF DOMESTIC RUBBISH INTO SLOWING-MOVING STREAMS, HE SAID.

HE CALLED ON THE PUBLIC FOR CO-OPERATION WITHOUT WHICH THE POLLUTION PROBLEM COULD NOT BE ELIMINATED.

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