XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

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IN DECEMBER 1986, ACAN ENDORSED THE WORKING PARTY'S FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHICH THE FOLLOWING HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED AND ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED.

* A LARGE-SCALE SCHOOL SURVEY ON PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG ABUSE INCLUDING MANDRAX COVERING SOME 100 000 STUDENTS IN 120 SCHOOLS WHICH IS BEING PLANNED FOR THE END OF 19871

* THE ERECTION OF CONSPICIOUS NOTICES AT THE BORDER CROSSING

POINTS WARNING TRAVELLERS TO CHINA THAT IT IS ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO BRING SUCH PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS INTO HONG KONG WITHOUT A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION; AND

* MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN PUBLICITY AND PREVENTIVE EDUCATION

THROUGH TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS, POSTERS AND SCHOOL TALKS.

AIRPORT NOISE PROBLEM UNDER REVIEW

*****

THE WHOLE QUESTION OF AIRPORT NOISE WAS UNDER REVIEW, AND THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAD LET A CONSULTANCY TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF REMEDIAL MEASURES TO REDUCE THE NOISE LEVELS AFFECTING RICHLAND GARDENS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED, WOULD BE PROVIDING CONSIDERABLE INPUT TO THIS STUDY AND CONSULTANTS WERE EXPECTED TO REPORT BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE MON POON CHI-FAI, MR BARNES SAID THAT LAND OCCUPIED BY RICHLAND GARDENS PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME WAS REZONED FROM INDUSTRIAL TO +RESIDENTIAL+ BY THE LAND DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER 1981.

+AT THAT TIME, THE DEMAND FOR URBAN RESIDENTIAL LAND EXCEEDED THE DEMAND FOR INDUSTRIAL LAND, AND SITES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE SCALE OF RICHLAND GARDENS WERE SCARCE AND URGENTLY NEEDED,+ HE SAID.

BEFORE DEVELOPMENT BEGAN, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DEVELOPER WERE AWARE OF THE NEED TO TAKÉ ACCOUNT OF THE NOISE GENERATED FROM THE AIRPORT IN THE DESIGN, HE ADDED;

/MR BARNES