XN000022-1986-08-08 — Page 4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1986

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NEW MEASURES FOR CONTROLLING ANIMAL WASTES

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THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED A PACKAGE OF NEW MEASURES WHICH HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR THE CONTROL OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY ANIMAL WASTES.

THE PACKAGE, COSTING $490 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS, HAS BEEN FORMULATED FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION CARRIED OUT IN THE EARLIER PART OF THIS YEAR.

DURING THE FOUR MONTHS ENDING APRIL 30, 1986, A TOTAL OF 54 ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE 19 DISTRICT BOARDS, THE URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL, HEUNG YEE KUK AND ASSOCIATIONS OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS AND RELATED TRADES WERE ASKED TO COMMENT ON A CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT WHICH THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR. THIS SET OUT A PROPOSED PACKAGE OF MEASURES INVOLVING A BAN ON LIVESTOCK KEEPING IN THE MAIN BUILT-UP AREA AND CONTROLS ELSEWHERE.

THE ASSOCIATIONS OF FARMERS AND RELATED TRADES AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK REACTED STRONGLY AGAINST THE PROPOSALS: THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS IN GENERAL SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL TO BAN LIVESTOCK KEEPING IN URBAN AREAS AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY COMPENSATION IN SUCH CASES AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR COMPLIANCE IN CONTROLLED AREAS.

THE URBAN COUNCIL SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL FOR A BAN IN THE URBAN AREA.

MOST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL GENERALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO TAKE ACTION BUT RECOMMENDED SYMPATHETIC TREATMENT FOR SMALL FARMERS IN PARTICULAR, WITH PROVISION BOTH FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR COMPLIANCE AND COMPENSATION FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS THROUGH INABILITY TO COMPLY. OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSALS WAS MORE STRONGLY VOICED IN THE NORTH, YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN AND ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARDS.

A 10-YEAR PROGRAMME IS PLANNED, INCLUDING ONE YEAR FOR UNDERTAKING A SURVEY, RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF STAFF AND PROVIDING ADVANCE NOTICE FOR AFFECTED FARMERS.

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IN OUTLINE, THE PHASING AND SCOPE OF THE MEASURES FOLLOWED THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE CONSULTATIVE PAPER:

(A) PHASE 1 (YEAR 2 TO YEAR 4): LIVESTOCK KEEPING WOULD BE

BANNED ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON, NEW KOWLOON, SHA TIN, TAI PO, FANLING, SHEUNG SHUI, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN NEW TOWNS. IN ADDITION, THE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS WOULD BE CLOSELY CONTROLLED:

/(I) TOLO