XN000022-1987-04-03 — Page 5

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 1987

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THERE ARE 106 EXISTING SUCH WORKS IN HONG KONG, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S RECORDS.

NEW SPECIFIED PROCESS WORKS WILL BE SUBJECT TO LICENSING CONTROL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. HOWEVER, EXISTING WORKS ALREADY REGISTERED WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING PROCEDURES.

BUT HE ADDED THAT EXEMPTION WILL LAPSE WITH ANY CHANGE, MODIFICATION OR RENEWAL OF PLANT.

BY INSTALLATION OF NEW PLANT, FOR EXAMPLE, AN EXISTING SPECIFIED PROCESS WORKS WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO LICENSING. THE APPROACH IS TO CONTROL EXISTING PROCESSES AS THEY CHANGE OR INTRODUCE NEW PROCESSES.

THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER SAID THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, PROTECTS TRADE AND MANUFACTURING SECRETS ALLOWS TRANSFER OF LICENCE AND STIPULATES PENALTIES FOR SUPPLY OF INCORRECT INFORMATION AND VIOLATION OF LICENSING AND EXEMPTION CONDITIONS.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM) FIRST CONSIDERED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN MAY LAST YEAR AND ADVISED THAT INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE CONSULTED.

AN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION EXERCISE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ARRANGED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.

THIRTY-THREE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS WERE INVITED TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT BILL. MEETINGS WERE ALSO ORGANISED AT WHICH REPRESENTATIVES OF HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT BRIEFED INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES ON THE PROPOSALS.

SIX WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED LAST OCTOBER. TWO ORGANISATIONS INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT WHILE THE OTHER FOUR HAD NO OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN GENERAL ALTHOUGH THEY HAD MADE SPECIFIC COMMENTS.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WAS AMENDED IN THE LIGHT OF COMMENTS RECEIVED AND WAS ENDORSED BY EPCOM IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON MARCH 24 AND APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROPOSED BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE FIRST AND THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED ON MAY 6.

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