XN000022-1984-06-01 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1984

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HONG KONG

GUANGDONG GROUPS DISCUSS ENVIRONMENT

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A DELEGATION LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU, MR QIANG BING-HUAN, TODAY COMPLETED AN INTENSIVE WEEK OF VISITS AND DISCUSSIONS ON TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS AFFECTING BOTH GUANGDONG AND HONG KONG.

IN ADDITION TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU, THE DELEGATION INCLUDED THE DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGZHOU ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE, MR WU GUANG-LAI, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM THE SHENZHEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICE.

+ THE MAIN BUSINESS OF THE VISIT WAS TO REACH BROAD AGREEMENT ON A JOINT MONITORING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING EXERCISE FOR THE DEEP BAY AREA,+ SAID DR STUART REED, THE COMMISSIONER.FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, TODAY.

+BUT THE DELEGATION ALSO DISCUSSED MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST WITH SPECIALISTS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDED DISPOSAL OF MUNICIPAL WASTES, WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN TOLO HARBOUR, CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES AND PLANNING AGAINST NOISE.+

THE DELEGATION UNDERTOOK A SERIES OF TECHNICAL SITE VISITS TO SEE THE STEPS BEING TAKEN IN PRACTICE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG. SITE VISITS INCLUDED A LOOK AT THE REHABILITATION WORK ON THE NOW-COMPLETED GIN DRINKER'S BAY CONTROLLED TIP INTENDED TO PROVIDE FUTURE RECREATIONAL SPACE, AS WELL AS THE CURRENT CONTROLLED TIP AT JUNK BAY.

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THE VISITORS WERE SHOWN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT ARRANGEMENTS AT THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE AND AT THE HONG LOK YUEN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONTROL POLLUTION FROM HONG KONG ELECTRIC COMPANY'S COAL-FIRED POWER STATION ON LAMMA ISLAND.

DR REED SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE TO BUILD ON THE LINKS ALREADY ESTABLISHED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRST VISIT FROM THE BUREAU IN JANUARY LAST YEAR. THE PROGRAMME THAT HAD BEEN THRASHED OUT FOR DEEP BAY SHOULD MEAN THAT ANY ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS FROM THE MASSIVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT EXPECTED IN THAT AREA WOULD BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM.

THE JOINT PROGRAMME COVERS BOTH WATER AND AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT.

DR REED SAID THAT BOTH SIDES WOULD NOW DRAW UP DETAILED

· TECHNICAL PROGRAMMES WHICH HE HOPED WOULD BE FINALISED AT A MEETING IN SHENZHEN AT THE END OF JULY, WITH A VIEW TO STARTING WORK ON THE GROUND IN EARLY AUGUST THIS YEAR.

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