XN000022-1985-06-21 — Page 8

FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1985

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ROUTINE VISIT ****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MARTIN ROWLANDS, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) TO LISTEN TO STAFF MEMBERS AND TO EXCHANGE VIEWS.

MR ROWLANDS STARTED HIS MORNING VISIT WITH A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTORATE BEFORE TOURING THE NEWS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISIONS.

HE STOPPED TO CHAT WITH STAFF OF THE VARIOUS SECTIONS BEFORE DROPPING IN ON A MEETING OF THE DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE ISD STAFF CLUB.

MR ROWLANDS LISTENED TO THE NUMEROUS TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ALSO BRIEFED THEM ON ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST.

EPCOM DISCUSSES EMISSION CONTROL PROPOSALS

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TENTATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES IN HONG KONG WERE CONSIDERED BY MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) AT A MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE CONTAINED IN AN INTERIM REPORT OF A STUDY ON HONG KONG MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS PROBLEM COMMISSIONED BY THE UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (UNIDO) IN 1984.

THE UNIDO CONSULTANT, MR MICHAEL WALSH, WHO COMPILED THE REPORT AFTER A MONTH-LONG PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION IN HONG KONG LAST NOVEMBER ALSO ATTENDED THE EPCOM MEETING FOR DISCUSSION OF THE REPORT.

THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD PARTICULATE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG CAUSED MAINLY BY COMMERCIAL DIESEL VEHICLES.

PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATIONS WERE PROPOSED TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMME AS REGARDS THE CONTROL OF SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES AND TO STREAMLINE THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROL OF THE PROBLEM.

THE REPORT