XN000022-1987-05-06 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1987

HE POINTED OUT THAT POLLUTION FROM ANIMAL WASTE WAS A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.

+IT POSES SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS WHERE POLLUTED WATER IS FOR IRRIGATION OR WHERE SHELL FISHERIES AND PUBLIC BEACHES BECOME CONTAMINATED. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ANIMAL WASTES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF ALL STREAM POLLUTION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND 50 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ORGANIC POLLUTION ENTERING THE SEA,+ HE SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT POLLUTION BY ANIMAL WASTES HAD LED TO A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF THE COASTAL WATERS PARTICULARLY IN TOLO HARBOUR, AND IT IMPOSED HIGH COSTS ON THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES AND THE REDUCTION OF POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES.

THE PROPOSED SCHEME WILL PROHIBIT THE KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK ON HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND IN THE NEW TOWNS- WHILE THE KEEPING OF LIVESTOCK IN THE REMAINING AREAS WHICH INCLUDE MOST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL.

+IN THESE AREAS, LIVESTOCK_KEEPERS WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS WHICH WILL COVER THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, TREATMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND DISPOSAL OF LIVESTOCK WASTE, MR CHAMBERS

ADDED.

HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTROL SCHEME WAS THE SUBJECT OF EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH DISTRICT BOARDS AND WITH THE FARNERS THEMSELVES DEFORE IT WAS AGREED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL LAST AUGUST.

+ALL LIVESTOCK-KEEPERS WHO HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE AREA WHERE PIGS AND POULTRY ARE TO BE BANNED AND ALSO THOSE IN THE CONTROLLED AREAS WHO GO OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE THE NEW REGULATIONS MAKE IT UNECONOMIC FOR THEM TO CONTINUE, WILL RECEIVE COMPENSATION,+ HE SAID.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE COMPENSATION RATES SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THOSE FOR DEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES, BUT FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS HAD NOW BEEN RECONSIDERED AND THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE PUTTING A REVISED PROPOSAL, WITH MORE GENEROUS RATES, TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE LATER THIS MONTH.

MR CHAMBERS SAID CONCERN HAD BEEN EXPRESSED THAT THE PROPOSED CONTROL STANDARDS WERE TOO STRINGENT AND THAT IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR LIVESTOCK FARMERS TO COMPLY WITH.

+IT IS HOWEVER THE VIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT THAT ANY LESS STRINGENT STANDARDS WOULD NOT ACHIEVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE WATERCOURSES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE NOTED.

/IN ORDER