XN000022-1983-11-01 — Page 5

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983

WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM EXAMINED

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THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR HENRY CHING, TODAY VISITED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO LOOK AT THE LATEST METHODS ADOPTED TO TACKLE' THE WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM.

HE WAS BRIEFED BY CONSULTANTS ON THE +HONG KONG WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL,+ A COMPUTER BASED PLANNING MODEL WHICH HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED FOR USE IN PLANNING THE TERRITORY'S WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.

LAST YEAR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL SPENT OVER $450 MILLION ON WASTE MANAGEMENT. THE DISPOSAL OF WASTES FROM HOUSEHOLDS, OFFICES AND INDUSTRY IS AN EVER-INCREASING PROBLEM AND MAJOR NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING QUANTITIES OF WASTE IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEWLY DEVELOPING NEW TOWNS. POTENTIAL SITES FOR WASTE DISPOSAL ARE SEVERELY LIMITED AND LIKELY TO BE REMOTE FROM THE URBAN AREAS.

FOR ALL THESE REASONS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT

A SYSTEMATIC CHOOSES THE BEST AVAILABLE PLAN FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT. APPROACH IS REQUIRED. THE +HONG KONG WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL+ HAS BEEN PURPOSE-BUILT TO FULFILL THIS NEED,

BY CHANGING BASIC ASSUMPTIONS IN THE MODEL'S INPUT DATA, RADICALLY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES CAN BE PRODUCED AND COMPARED, AND THE MODEL PROVIDES SUMMARY COMPARATIVE INFORMATION TO HELP IN DECISION-MAKING. THESE ALTERNATIVE PLANS CAN THEN BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRITERIA WHICH FORM THE BACKGROUND FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.

THE WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL IS ALREADY IN USE BY STAFF OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. DECISIONS BASED UPON IT ARE EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

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ETHICS SEMINAR ARRANGED FOR JOURNALISTS ***

WORKING JOURNALISTS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A SEMINAR ON PRESS ETHICS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE.

THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 14 TO 17, 21 TO 24, 28 AND 29. FROM 11 AM TO 1 PM, AT THE REQUEST OF THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO BROADEN PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE THE OBSERVANCE AND BREAKING OF PROFESSIONAL PRINCIPLES, AND LECTURES WILL BE GIVEN ON CODES AND ENFORCIBILITY OF ETHICS.

THE SEMINAR FEE IS $1 000 PER PERSON. WITH EACH PARTICIPANT PAYING A NOMINAL SUM OF $100 AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BEARING THE BALANCE.

THE SEMINAR