XN000022-1984-03-30 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984

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+THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND IS ENVIRONMENTALLY OFFENSIVE, AND THEREFORE IT IS PROPOSED THAT, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, THE PROVISION OF PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL NEW BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS WHICH EXCEED A CERTAIN SIZE.

+ THE INTENTION IS THAT THE CHAMBERS WILL BE USED FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF REFUSE BEFORE IT IS TAKEN TO REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.

+ IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT IN THE CASE OF VERY LARGE BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS, PROVISION OF VEHICULAR ACCESS IS TO BE MANDATORY SO THAT REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES CAN GAIN ACCESS AND PROVIDE A DIRECT COLLECTION SERVICE, HE ADDED.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 16 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON MAY 30.

REGULATIONS REQUIRING MANDATORY PROVISION OF REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS WILL BE MADE IF THE BILL IS PASSED INTO LAW BUT WILL ONLY COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1, 1985.

ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.

ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO BE CONSULTED ON FINDINGS OF REPORT

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THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (IDB), CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, DECIDED AT ITS MEETING THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO CONSULT THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AND THE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS ON THE FINDINGS OF TWO REPORTS.

THE TWO REPORTS ARE: THE STUDY ON THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY PREPARED BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND THEIR EXTERNAL CONSULTANT ARTHUR D. LITTLE INTERNATIONAL INC.. AND THE REPORT OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT STUDY.

IN AUGUST 1981, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE THEN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO CARRY OUT A STUDY ON HOW THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY CAN DIVERSIFY INTO HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS. TEN RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE IN THE STUDY WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN MAY 1983.

/THE STUDY