BONDAY, MAY 4, 1987
THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS IN THE FORM OF ADVICE ON WASTE MANAGEMENT METHODS, IN PROVIDING FACILITIES SUCH AS ACCESS ROUTES AND WASTE COLLECTION POINTS AND IN ORGANISING, AND INITIALLY PAYING FOR, A WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE.
THE DRAFT REGULATIONS ADDITIONALLY SET OUT DISCHARGE STANDARDS FOR ON-FARM WASTE TREATMENT WORKS. THESE ARE TO BE SET AT A LEVEL REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT THE CURRENT ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF LIVESTOCK WASTE NO LONGER CONTINUES TO CAUSE GROSS POLLUTION TO HONG KONG'S STREAMS AND INSHORE WATERS.
THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF EPCOM ALSO EXPRESSED THE IR DEEP CONCERN THAT AN APPEAL BY EIGHT FACTORY OWNERS, WHO HAD BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE TO INSTALL CHIMNEYS, HAD BEEN UPHELD. EPCOM MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT THE APPEAL HAD BEEN BASED PRIMARILY ON A LEGAL TECHNICALITY AND THEY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOSE NO TIME IN REMEDYING THE SITUATION.
THE EPCOM MEMBERS CONSIDERED AND UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED A SCHEME FOR THE CONTROL OF CHEMICAL WASTES, THESE COMPRISE SUCH WASTE SUBSTANCES AS ASBESTOS, POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS), HEAVY METALS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS, PESTICIDES, DANGEROUS GOODS, ACIDS AND ALKALIS OILY WASTES FROM SHIPPING AND TANNERY WASTES AND SLUDGES.
THE MAJOR POINTS OF THE SCHEME ARE THAT WASTE PRODUCERS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPER DISPOSAL OF THEIR WASTES, THAT COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED PERSONS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING, TRANSPORTING AND DISPOSING OF THESE WASTES AND THAT THE AUTHORITY (DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION) MONITORS THE PROGRESS OF CHEMICAL WASTES FROM POINT OF ARISING TO POINT OF DISPOSAL.
THIS IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS +CRADLE-TO-GRAVE+ CONTROL AND IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID THE HAZARDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE CURRENTLY CAUSED BY THE OFTEN ILLEGAL AND INDISCRIMINATE DISPOSAL OF THESE WASTES TO LAND OR SEWERS.
THE COMMITTEE NOTED SOME RECENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS WASTES, INCLUDING ONE FATALITY, AND THAT THE CURRENT ACCUMULATION OF THESE WASTES IN THE SEDIMENTS IN PARTS OF VICTORIA HARBOUR IS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL +TIME BOMB+.
IN ORDER TO ASSIST INDUSTRIAL ISTS TO COMPLY WITH THE SCHEME THE GOVERNMENT WILL PREPARE CODES OF PRACTICE TO ADVISE INDUSTRY ON PROPER WASTE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. ADDITIONALLY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES IN THE FORM OF A CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT PLANT AND A CO-DISPOSAL LANDFILL SITE.
CONSULTANTS ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING THE DETAILED REQUIREMENTS OF THESE FACILITIES AND THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE TIME INDUSTRY NEEDS THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE LEGISLATION.
THE DETAILED PROPOSALS OF THE SCHEME OF CONTROL IN THE FORM OF REGULATIONS AND CODES OF PRACTICE UNDER THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE WILL BE PRESENTED FOR EPCOM'S CONSIDERATION IN DUE COURSE.
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