XN000022-1986-07-26 — Page 4

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1986

SHE WAS TAKEN ON A TOUR OF THE PREMISES OF THE HEADQUARTERS WHICH INCLUDE A CONFERENCE ROOM AND A REFERENCE LIBRARY.

THE YIN NGAI CENTRAL COUNCIL WAS FORMED IN 1985 TO PROVIDE BETTER CO-ORDINATION FOR YIN NGAI SOCEITIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND TO MAINTAIN THEIR SOLIDARITY AS THE ORGANISATION GROWS.

APART FROM PROVIDING A VENUE FOR MEETINGS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, THE CENTRAL COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS SERVE AS COMMUNICATION POINT FOR YIN NGAI SOCIETIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.

DURING THE TOUR, LADY AKERS-JONES WAS TOLD THAT THE CENTRAL COUNCIL HAD ORGANISED A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS IN THE PAST YEAR.

THESE INCLUDED A STUDY TOUR TO SINGAPORE, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, SEMINARS ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, GATHERINGS, CAMPS AND HEALTHY CHILDREN COMPETITIONS.

WASTE THAT POSES PROBLEM FOR LIFE, ENVIRONMENT

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A CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANT POSES NO MORE DANGER TO HUMAN LIFE THAN AN ORDINARY FACTORY. BUT, WITHOUT IT, LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT COULD BE AT RISK, ACCORDING TO ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR MIKE STOKOE.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 40 000 TONNES OF CHEMICAL WASTE ARE PRODUCED EVERY YEAR BY THE VARIOUS TYPES OF FACTORIES OPERATING IN HONG KONG. AS THERE IS AT PRESENT NO PROPER FACILITY FOR TREATING CHEMICAL WASTE, MOST OF THE WASTE MATERIAL IS SIMPLY POURED INTO DRAINS OR FLUSHED AWAY.

MUCH OF THE WASTE IS PRODUCED BY FACTORIES IN TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG, TSING YI AND KWUN TONG. THE POLLUTING EFFECT OF THE UNCONTROLLED DISCHARGES IS EVIDENT IN THE NULLAHS AND COASTAL WATERS IN THOSE AREAS.

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THE UNTREATED WASTE PRODUCTS ARE HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN LIFE, MR STOKOE SAID.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOLVENT WASTE, WHICH RESULTS FROM PROCESSES ADOPTED IN ELECTRONICS AND METAL FACTORIES, IS INFLAMMABLE -- AND DANGEROUS IF DISPOSED OF IMPROPERLY.

/OTHER EXAMPLES