XN000022-1987-03-24 — Page 5

TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1987

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EPD CONTINUES COMBAT AGAINST POLLUTION

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THE DENSE POPULATION AND CONCENTRATION OF INDUSTRIES IN A SMALL PLACE LIKE HONG KONG PRODUCES ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE CITY AND ON ITS AIR AND WATER RESOURCES, THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

HE SAID ACTION ALREADY TAKEN HAD BY AND LARGE PREVENTED THE WORST CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE HAD BEEN ON A NUMBER OF FRONTS.

THESE INCLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE DATA ON HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEVELOPING NEW POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IMPROVED LEGISLATION AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL PROGRAMMES PROVISION OF MORE AND IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR THE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTES; AND CREATING A GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AMONG ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

DR REED ALSO SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO THE DEPARTMENT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.

SAID.

+WE EXPECT TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE 220 STAFF IN POST,+ HE

+THE PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICIANS COVER A WIDE SPAN OF DISCIPLINE RANGING FROM CIVIL, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERS TO TOWN PLANNERS, MATHEMATICIANS, CHEMISTS, PHYSICISTS, MICROBIOLOGISTS, BIOCHEMISTS AND BIOLOGISTS.+

+ IT WILL REQUIRE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT TIME TO RECRUIT ALL THESE STAFF AND SET THEM TO WORK PRODUCTIVELY ON PROTECTING HONG KONG'S ENVIRONMENT, HE SAID.

DR REED ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EMBARK ON A SERIES OF NEW PROGRAMMES THIS YEAR IN CO-ORDINATION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THESE PROGRAMMES WOULD INCLUDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS IN TOLO HARBOUR WATER CONTROL ZONE; THE INTRODUCTION OF REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIVESTOCK WASTES AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VEHICLE EMISSION SMOKE CONTROL PROGRAMME PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW POLLUTION CONTROL AND WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES AND THE CONSULTATION AND PREPARATION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NOISE CONTROL BILL.

+ IN ADDITION TO THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE AMONG WHICH I COUNT OUR EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE OCCURENCE OF NEW PROGRAMMES BY PLANNING AGAINST POLLUTION TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT, HE CONCLUDED.

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