XN000022-1987-05-22 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1987

AS EACH COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED IT WILL BE CATEGORISED AND RECORDED IN A COMPUTER TO ENABLE MORE EFFECTIVE FOLLOW-UP ACTION AND REGULAR ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT RECORDS.

THE SECTION WAS SET UP WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING GROUP (EAP) OF THE EPD IN JUNE LAST YEAR FOLLOWING A REORGANISATION OF THE THEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. APART FROM DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS ON ALL POLLUTION, THE SECTION IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING THE DEPARMENT'S LIAISON WITH OMELCO, THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND WITH THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE SECTION HAD RESPONDED TO OVER 5 000 COMPLAINTS AND ENQUIRIES CONCERNING POLLUTION MATTERS.

*WITH THE PUBLIC'S GROWING AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND THE PROGRESSIVE INTRODUCTION OF POLLUTION CONTROLS, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE FURTHER IN THE COMING YEAR, HE ADDED.

MACLEOD STRESSES HK'S AFFINITY WITH WEST COAST

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THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (MAY 23) PRAISED THE FORMATION OF THE NEW HONG KONG-SEATTLE ASSOCIATION AS A MEANS TO FOSTER CLOSER LINKS BETWEEN WASHINGTON STATE AND HONG KONG.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING IN SEATTLE CO-SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG-SEATTLE ASSOCIATION, THE WASHINGTON COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE, THE WASHINGTON STATE CHINA RELATIONS COUNCIL AND THE PORT OF SEATTLE, MR MACLEOD EMPHASISED HONG KONG'S AFFINITY TO THE WEST COAST OF THE USA.

HE NOTED THE SIMILARITY IN THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE TWO PLACES, BOTH BELIEVING IN THE BENEFITS OF FREE TRADE.

+ IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS PARTICULAR AWARENESS HERE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PACIFIC BASIN, AND OF THE BENEFITS TO YOUR ECONOMY FLOWING FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE,+ MR MACLEOD SAID.

ADMITTING THAT PROTECTIONISM IN THE USA CASTS A SHADOW OVER HONG KONG'S OTHERWISE EXCELLENT TRADING PROSPECTS, MR MACLEOD REFUTED THE ARGUMENTS AND MYTHS PRESENTED TO JUSTIFY TRADE BARRIERS, SUCH AS IMPORTS MEANING LOST JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES, OR THAT THE UNITED STATES IS BEING DE-INDUSTRIAL ISED.

/HE SAID