XN000022-1985-12-28 — Page 3

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URLY, DOM TO 26, 1985

DRAFTING OF REGULATIONS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IT IS HOPED THAT AFTER THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT MONTHS, THE REGULATIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

SIMILARLY, DRAFTING OF REGULATIONS TO CONTROL MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, THE SO-CALLED SPECIFIED PROCESS+ REGULATIONS, ARE NEAR COMPLETION.

A FOURTH ORDINANCE, THE LONG-DELAYED NOISE CONTROL BILL, IS NOW MAKING BETTER PROGRESS AND THE BILL HAS PASSED THROUGH THREE MORE DRAFTS DURING THE YEAR.

THERE ARE ALSO PROVISIONS IN SEVERAL OTHER LAWS FOR THE CONTROL OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLLUTION.

THE EPA REVIEW SAID THAT WHEN CONSCIENTIOUSLY ENFORCED, LEGISLATION CAN PREVENT OR RECTIFY MANY POLLUTION PROBLEMS.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, CERTAIN POLLUTION SITUATIONS FOR WHICH LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS ARE INSUFFICIENT IN THEMSELVES. IN SUCH CASES, MUCH CAREFUL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT WORK IS NEEDED IN ADDITION TO ANY CONTROLS THAT MAY BE IMPOSED.

FOR THIS REASON, DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS ARE NOW REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.

ALSO, IT HAS BECOME ROUTINE FOR MAJOR NEW TOWN PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE ONE AT JUNK BAY, TO BE THE SUBJECT OF COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS WITH A VIEW TO IDENTIFYING POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS ON DEVELOPMENT AND THE INTRODUCTION OF PLANNING FEATURES THAT WILL PREVENT OR REDUCE POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

AT A MORE DETAILED LEVEL, OUTLINE DEVELOPMENT PLANS LIKE SAI WAN HO NEW ESTATE OR TOWN LAYOUT PLANS SUCH AS THAT FOR YUEN LONG EAST, ARE EXAMINED IN ORDER TO PRE-EMPT LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

TO HELP PLANNERS IN THIS TASK, A NEW CHAPTER ON ENVIRONMENT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES - THE MANUAL THAT DIRECTS DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN JANUARY 1985.

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