XN000022-1984-07-25 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1984

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FREEDOM TO TRAVEL A MUST

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TO KEEP UP HONG KONG'S STANDARD OF MODERNISATION AND TECHNOLOGY, THE PEOPLE HERE MUST HAVE THE FREEDOM TO TRAVEL, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE, DR IP SAID THE PEOPLE ALSO NEED THIS FREEDOM IF CROSS-FERTILISATION WAS TO OCCUR IN HONG KONG, WHICH SHE LIKENED TO A +BLOSSOMING FLOWER ON CHINESE SOIL, ATTRACTING PEOPLE INTERNATIONALLY+.

+NOW AND AFTER 1997, HONG KONG HAS AN OBLIGATION AND THE ABILITY TO HELP MODERNISE CHINA,+ SHE SAID.

+SO FOR THOSE WHO HOLD THE POWER TO OUR DESTINY, GIVE US A CHANCE AND WE WILL BRING THEM BLOSSOM IN RETURN,+ DR IP ADDED.

MAJOR POLICY STEPS BEING TAKEN ON POLLUTION

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PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN FORMULATED FOR THE CLOSER REGULATION OF THE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF TOXIC, HAZARDOUS AND DIFFICULT WASTES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID TODAY.

THESE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS, MR CHING SAID, WOULD BE REFINED AND SUBMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE EPCOM -- FOR ADVICE DURING THE COMING MONTHS.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO, MR CHING SAID THE PROPOSALS WERE SOME OF THE MAJOR POLICY ISSUES CONCERNING POLLUTION CONTROL WHICH WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH EPCOM IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS OR SO.

DESCRIBING SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUES, MR CHING SAID ADVICE WOULD BE SOUGHT ON REGULATIONS TO BE MADE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE FOR THE CONTROL OF POLLUTION IN THE TOLO HARBOUR WATER CONTROL ZONE.

+ THE DRAFTING OF THESE REGULATIONS HAS PROVED MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXPECTED, BUT THE WORK IS NOW WELL ADVANCED.

+WE INTEND ALSO TO MAINTAIN PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE ACTION PLANS RECENTLY DRAWN UP TO REDUCE POLLUTION IN THE STREAMS WHICH FEED INTO OUR COASTAL WATERS, INCLUDING TOLO HARBOUR.

+EPCOM'S ADVICE ON THESE ACTION PLANS WILL BE SOUGHT AS AND WHEN NECESSARY, HE SAID.

/RPCOM WOULD