XN000022-1986-08-08 — Page 5

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1986

(1) TOLO HARBOUR AND TOLO CHANNEL WATER CATCHMENT

(OUTSIDE THE TWO NEW TOWNS)

(11) RIVER INDUS AND UPPER SHENZHEN CATCHMENT

11) TSUEN WAN HINTERLAND AND TAI LAM CHUNG CATCHMENT

(IV) TUEN MUN HINTERLAND

-

(B) PHASE II (YEAR 5 TO YEAR 7): LIVESTOCK KEEPING WOULD BE

BANNED IN YUEN LONG NEW TOWN AND PART OF TUEN MUN YUEN LONG CORRIDOR. IN ADDITION, THE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE IN THE YUEN LONG HINTERLAND, TIN SHUI WAI AND KAM TIN WOULD BE CLOSELY CONTROLLED.

(C) PHASE III (YEAR 8 TO YEAR 10): THE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL

OF ANIMAL WASTE IN THE REMAINING AREAS OF THE

NEW TERRITORIES WOULD BE CLOSELY CONTROLLED.

IN AREAS WHERE CONTROLS - RATHER THAN A BAN - WILL APPLY, NEW REGULATIONS WILL HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED BY ALL KEEPERS OF LIVESTOCK. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE REGULATIONS WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT PROPER WASTE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL METHODS ARE PRACTISED AT ALL PREMISES WHERE LIVESTOCK ARE KEPT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW CONTROLS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PROGRAMME OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY EXTENSION SERVICES WHICH WILL ADVISE FARMERS HOW TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CONTROLS, ASSIST THEM TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF COMPLIANCE IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON RELEVANT WASTE TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY AND PROMOTE ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO ITS ORIGINAL PROPOSALS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF VIEWS EXPRESSED DURING THE CONSULTATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE IS THAT IT IS NOW PLANNED TO PROVIDE ANIMAL WASTE COLLECTION SERVICES FOR FARMERS.

THE PROVISION OF COLLECTION SERVICES RECOGNISES THE FACT THAT ACCESS TO A COLLECTION SERVICE WILL, FOR MOST FARMERS, BE THE CRITICAL FACTOR DETERMINING THEIR ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CONTROLS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED THAT THE FARMING SECTOR IS NOT SUFFICIENTLY UNIFIED OR ORGANISED FOR IT TO BE REALISTICALLY ASSUMED THAT COLLECTION SERVICES WILL SPRING UP IN RESPONSE TO THE UNDOUBTED DEMAND WHICH THE NEW CONTROLS WILL CREATE.

FARMERS WILL STILL NEED TO INVEST IN ANY ON-FARM' IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY TO COMPLEMENT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A COLLECTION SERVICE AND TO COMPLY WITH THE CONDITIONS REGARDING ON-FARM HANDLING AND STORAGE OF WASTE.

/COLLECTION