XN000022-1986-09-08 — Page 5

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1986

COMMENTS ON DRAFT NOISE CONTROL BILL SOUGHT

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE DRAFT NOISE CONTROL BILL SHOULD BE PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC

ENTS BEFORE IT IS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE DECISION WAS MADE AT A MEETING TODAY (MONDAY) AFTER THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERED MEMBERS' COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT BILL AND THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO THEM.

MEMBERS CONSIDERED GENERAL POLLUTION CONTROL PROBLEMS AND EXISTING LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS AND ENDORSED WORK PRIORITIES FOR 1986-87 IN THE POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMME COVERING AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, NOISE CONTROL AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.

MEERS ALSO NOTED A PAPER ON THE CURRENT REFUSE DISPOSAL STRATEGY AND PROGRESS MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAMME. MORE RELIANCE IS PLACED ON CONTROLLED TIPPING AS THE PRINCIPAL MEANS OF DISPOSAL.

TWO REMOTE SITES IN THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED AS HIGH CAPACITY TIPS, WITH REFUSE TRANSFER STATIONS TO BE PROVIDED AT SUITABLE LOCATIONS IN THE URBAN AREAS AND NEW TOWNS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSPORTATION OF REFUSE FROM ITS POINT OF ARISING.

THIS MEANS THAT THE KENNEDY TOWN AND LAI CHI KOK INCINERATORS, WHICH GENERATE AIR POLLUTION, CAN EVENTUALLY BE CLOSED DOWN. THE KWAI CHUNG INCINERATOR HOWEVER WILL REMAIN FOR THE TIME BEING SINCE IT POSES LESS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

FORMAL BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT WAS DEFERRED TO THE NEXT MEETING WHEN MORE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE.

THE MEETING ALSO ENDORSED THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF A WORKING GROUP FORMED TO ORGANISE EVENTS TO MARK THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY ON JUNE 5, 1987. A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN ARRANGING ACTIVITIES FOR THE OCCASION.

PRICE, VOLUME CHANGES IN JUNE EXTERNAL TRADE

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THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS GREW BY 8 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1986 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS, HOWEVER

REMAINED UNCHANGED.

HENCE THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 4 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS.

/IMPORTS INCREASED