XN000022-1984-10-04 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1984

+OTHER MATTERS BEING CONSIDERED INCLUDE TWO SETS OF REGULATIONS NDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE, ONE CONTROLLING THE USE OF ASBESTOS IN THE WORKPLACE. AND THE OTHER PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.

ON THE ENVIRONMENT ASPECT, SIR EDWARD SAID, +WATER POLLUTION IS ARGUABLY THE MOST SERIOUS BLIGHT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.+

HE SAID THAT REGULATIONS TO CONTROL DISCHARGES IN TOLO HARBOUR WHICH WAS DECLARED THE FIRST WATER CONTROL ZONE, UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THIS YEAR.

MEANWHILE, LEGISLATION FOR THE PROPER STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE WAS IN DRAFT, HE SAID.

EACH DAY, 2 000 TONNES OF UNTREATED ANIMAL WASTE ARE DUMPED INTO HONG KONG'S WATERCOURSES.

A CENTRAL STEERING GROUP HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE TO OVERSEE AND COORDINATE WATERCOURSE MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT, WHILE DISTRICT LEVEL PLANS WERE IN HAND TO TACKLE LOCAL SOURCES OF POLLUTION, SIR EDWARD SAID.

HE ADDED THAT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROLS ON NOISE NUISANCES SHOULD ALSO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS SESSION.

HOUSING AUTHORITY EXCEEDING BUILDING TARGET

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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL EXCEED ITS ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION TARGET OF 35 000 FLATS THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

NOTING THAT OVER 2.4 MILLION PEOPLE, OR ABOUT 45 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION, LIVE IN PERMANENT PUBLIC HOUSING, SIR EDWARD SAID NOWHERE IS THE GOVERNMENT'S INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE MORE VISIBLE THAN IN THE FIELD OF HOUSING.

+NEXT YEAR THE ADDITION OF 5 000 FLATS FOR SALE UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME WILL ALLOW US TO BOOST PUBLIC SECTOR PRODUCTION, INCLUDING THAT OF THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY, TO OVER 40 000 FLATS ANNUALLY, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD SAID HIGHER PRODUCTION FIGURES HAD PERMITTED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REVIEW ITS ALLOCATION POLICIES.

/+THIS INVOLVED