XN000022-1986-07-26 — Page 5

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SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1986

OTHER EXAMPLES ARE OILY WASTE FROM SHIPYARDS, WHICH WILL POLLUTE THE SEA, AND AQUEOUS WASTE PRODUCED BY TEXTILES AND ELECTROPLATING FACTORIES, WHICH IS TOXIC AND, BY ITS VERY NATURE, WILL EVEN STOP OPERATION OF A GOVERNMENT SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.

+UNCONTROLLED DISPOSAL CAN COST LIFE, + MR STOKOE SAID. +A TECHNICIAN WORKING IN A MANHOLE DIED AFTER HOT CORROSIVE WASTE DISCHARGED FROM AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING SCALDED HIM.+

THE SHING MUN RIVER FLOWING THROUGH SHA TIN AFFORDS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF POLLUTION BY UNTREATED CHEMICAL WASTE FROM FACTORIES, DESPITE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.

MR STOKOE POINTED OUT THAT MANY INDUSTRIES HAVE INCREASED THE USE OF CHEMICALS IN THE RAW MATERIAL FOR THEIR VARIED PROCESSES.

THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM OF DEALING WITH CHEMICAL WASTE LIES IN ESTABLISHING A PROPER TREATMENT PLANT, IN MR STOKOE'S VIEW.

IN FACT, SUCH A CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANT HAS BEEN PROPOSED BY HIS DEPARTMENT, AND THIS PROPOSAL IS BEING CONSIDERED WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT.

MR STOKOE SAID ESTABLISHING THIS TYPE OF SPECIALISED FACILITY HAS IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG QUITE APART FROM A POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT,

+ HONG KONG DEPENDS HEAVILY ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT. MANY COMPANIES IN THE ELECTRONIC AND HIGH-TECHNOLOGY AREAS WHICH HAVE PLANNED TO SET UP BRANCHES IN HONG KONG HAVE EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES.

+ INCORPORATION OF A TREATMENT PLANT AS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD ENHANCE THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF HONG KONG AS A PLACE FOR INVESTMENT, HE SAID.

JAPAN AND TAIWAN HAVE ALREADY SET UP SUCH PLANTS, HE ADDED.

MR STOKOE CITED ANOTHER FACTOR THAT COULD MAKE THE PLANT NECESSARY, SAYING THAT AS A SIGNATORY OF THE LONDON CONVENTION ON MARINE POLLUTION (MARPOL), HONG KONG WOULD NEED TO HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR COLLECTING AND DISPOSING OF OILY WASTE.

THE UNITED STATES, HE SAID, HAS ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR THAT IT WILL HOLD UP SHIPS AND CARGOES THAT COME FROM A COUNTRY OR TERRITORY WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE MARPOL,

/ HONG KONG'S