XN000022-1984-01-25 — Page 30

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1984

29

SCHOOL CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT POLLUTION CONTROL

*****

NINE-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS WHO RECENTLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE RIVER INDUS VISITED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THIS WEEK.

THE CHILDREN, WHO ATTEND BEACON HILL SCHOOL, BECAME CONCERNED AT THE CONDITION OF THE RIVER AFTER SPENDING A WEEK CAMPING AT THE SUEN DOUGH CAMP.

THIS WEEK THE STUDENTS, ABOUT 100 IN ALL, VISITED THE EPA WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED BY OFFICERS OF THE AGENCY WHO EXPLAINED HOW AND WHY RIVERS BECAME POLLUTED AND THE MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT COULD TAKE TO PREVENT, AND REMEDY, SUCH PROBLEMS.

THEY ALSO TOURED THE AGENCY'S LABORATORY AND SAW A DEMONSTRATION OF WATER-QUALITY SAMPLING.

THE STUDENTS HEARD THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN PREPARING A PLAN FOR EACH OF THE FIVE PRIORITY RIVERS SELECTED INITIALLY INCLUDING THE RIVER INDUS.

+A RIVER PLAN INCLUDES INFORMATION SUCH AS THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CATCHMENT, EXISTING WATER COURSE CONDITIONS, USES OF THE RIVER WATER, CONSTRAINTS, WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION REQUIRED,+ SAID AN EPA SPOKESMAN.

THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT THE QUALITY OF A RIVER CAN BE IMPROVED, INCLUDING DIRECT CLEANSING BY CLEARING LITTER AND VEGETATION, THE DREDGING OF SLUDGE FROM THE RIVER BED, CONDUCT MAINTENANCE AND FLUSHING, AND THE CONTROL OF WASTE DISCHARGE, SEWAGE TREATMENT AND CHANNEL TRAINING.

THE GOVERNMENT IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST WITH REGARD TO POLLUTED RIVERS, SAID THE SPOKESMAN, AND AT PRESENT SEVEN SPECIAL CLEANSING TEAMS, COMPRISING 50 WORKERS FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ARE MOBILISED EACH DAY TO CLEAR LITTER AND VEGETATION FROM THREE MAIN RIVERS, INCLUDING THE INDUS, IN NORTH DISTRICT.

OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER AS SOON AS RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.

THE STUDENTS WERE THANKED FOR THE IR INTEREST IN WATER POLLUTION AND SUPPORT FOR CLEANER RIVERS.

+ IF RIVER WATER QUALITY IS OF A GOOD STANDARD WE ALL BENEFIT,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN, WHETHER BY USING IT FOR DRINKING, SWIMMING, IRRIGATION, CONVEYANCE OF CONTROLLED DOMESTIC OR INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES, OR AS A GENERAL AMENITY.+

HE ALSO URGED THE PUBLIC TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN KEEPING THE TERRITORY'S RIVERS CLEAN.

/30

Page 30Page 31