XN000022-1986-11-26 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986

HE NOTED THAT A GOOD DEAL OF PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE RECENTLY, INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF WHAT SHOULD PROVE TO BE A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT; THE MAKING OF THE REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE: THE APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE OF A PACKAGE OF MEASURES TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF AGRICULTURAL WASTES; AND THE INITIATION OF CONCRETE MEASURES TO CLEAN UP THE SHING MUN RIVER AND THE TUEN MUN NULLAH HAVE ALL OCCURRED IN THE PAST YEAR.

+DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE LONG-AWAITED NOISE CONTROL BILL WHICH HAS PROVED EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRAFT. AND AN IMPORTANT SET OF AIR POLLUTION REGULATIONS SHOULD SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY,+ HE SAID.

PROVIDENT FUND HAS WIDE IMPLICATIONS

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THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, REITERATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF SETTING UP A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND WERE FAR-REACHING AND A DECISION COULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BRIDGE SAID: +WE MUST REGARD NOT SIMPLY TO THE WILLINGNESS OF THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE TO CONTRIBUTE BUT ALSO TO THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS UPON THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.+

MR BRIDGE NOTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S REVIEW PAPER HAD BEEN CIRCULATED FOR CONSULTATION TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF ADVISORY BODIES WHOSE EXPERTISE WAS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE.

+ IN THE LIGHT OF THAT ADVICE, CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION, HE SAID.

HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THEIR VIEWS WOULD BE SOUGHT BEFORE A DECISION WAS TAKEN ON THE ISSUE.

MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT THE ISSUE, IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT DOING SO FOR THE FIRST TIME.

/+THE GOVERNMENT