XN000022-1987-08-28 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1987

AND

"ALTHOUGH PROVIDED WITH WELL-DESIGNED SEWERAGE SYSTEMS BIOLOGICAL SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, THE POLLUTION LOAD FROM THE NEW URBAN POPULATION, CURRENTLY STANDING AT AROUND 700,000 AND AN ESTIMATED 200 FACTORIES, ADDED TO THE PRE-EXISTING UNTREATED LOADS FROM 50,000 VILLAGE DWELLERS AND 600,000 PIGS, IS FAR MORE THAN THE SEVERELY STRESSED ECOSYSTEM CAN STAND.

**RED TIDES, IN THIS CASE UNQUESTIONABLY CORRELATED WITH POLLUTION BY NUTRIENTS FROM SEWAGE AND ANIMAL WASTES, HAVE INCREASED IN NUMBER FROM THE FIRST-EVER RECORD IN 1979 TO 10 IN 1983, 19 IN 1986, AND ALREADY 16 IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1987."

MR HOLMES SAID THIS DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF ENVIRONMENT IS REFLECTED IN EVERY COMPONENT OF THE ECOSYSTEM. IF UNCHECKED IT WILL LEAD TO ECONOMIC LOSSES FAR MORE SEVERE THAN ANY SO FAR EXPERIENCED, TOTAL LOSS OF TOLO HARBOUR AS A VISUAL AND RECREATIONAL AMENITY, AND A VERY REAL HEALTH HAZARD TO THE POPULATION.

TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM. THE COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS.

GOVERNMENT

IS IMPLEMENTING

ENFORCEMENT OF STATUTORY CONTROLS

ON INDUSTRIAL WASTE HAS FOR VILLAGE AREAS, TO

ALREADY BEGUN, SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES COMPLEMENT THE SEWERAGE NETWORKS IN THE NEW TOWNS, ARE BEING PLANNED AND BUILT. SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TREATMENT PLANT AT SHA TIN AND TAI PO SEWAGE DISPOSAL WORKS ARE BEING CONSIDERED, AND IT IS PLANNED TO ELIMINATE ENTRIELY THE POLLUTION LOADS FROM THESE WORKS YEARS.

IN A FEW

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, STRICT CONTROLS ON LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL

WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FROM. THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

ROAD SAFETY ESSAY COMPETITION ENTRIES ADJUDICATED

+

ENTRIES OF THE ROAD SAFETY CHINESE STUDENTS ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION WERE ADJUDICATED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY A PANEL COMPRISING UNIVERSITY LECTURERS, WRITERS, AND SCHOLARS.

"THE STANDARD IS GENERALLY HIGH, MOST OF THE ENTRIES WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE, SHOWING A GOOD BALANCE IN CONTENT, STYLE, AND LANGUAGE. IT HAD BEEN A DIFFICULT TASK FOR US TO SELECT THE WINNERS, ONE OF THE ADJUDICATORS REMARKEN AFTER SPENDING FOUR HOURS STUDYING THE ENTRIES.

THE ESSAY