XN000022-1987-10-14 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987

9

THE

BILL.

WHICH

"IN PRINCIPLE, I SUPPORT

SPIRIT OF THE PROPOSED HOWEVER, THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM LIES IN HOW TO DEVISE A SCHEME CAN IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT WHILE GIVING ADEQUATE SAFEGUARD TO THE INTERESTS OF THE FARMERS, MR LAU SAID.

WHILE ACKNWOLEDGING THAT AGRICULTURAL WASTES HAD

EDGING

BEEN CAUSING SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, MR LAU NEVERTHELESS FELT THAT LIVESTOCK FARMERS SHOULD NOT SOLELY BE BLAMED FOR CAUSING THE PRESENT ENVIRONMENTAL CHAOS. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO BEAR PART OF THE BLAME, HE ADDED.

HE RECALLED THAT IN 1967, THREATENED WITH A SUSPENSION

IN THE

SUPPLY OF IMPORTED FOODSTUFF, THE GOVERNMENT HAD GIVEN MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT TO PEOPLE DEVELOPING THE FARMING INDUSTRY.

"IT IS REGRETTABLE THAT ALL ALONG THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE AND LONG-TERM POLICY TO PROTECT AND DEVELOP OUR FARMING INDUSTRY. IT ALSO FAILS TO DISCHARGE ITS RESPONSIBILITY OF GIVING FARMERS GUIDANCE ON TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT, TRANSFER MODERN PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE ΤΟ THEM AND PROVIDE THEM WITH ADVANCED EQUIPMENT TO COPE WITH THE MODERNISATION OF THE INDUSTRY.

NOTING THAT THE BILL HAD CAUSED GREAT DISSATISFACTION AMONG FARMERS, HE BELIEVED THIS WAS PARTLY DUE TO PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE CERTAIN PARTS OF THE LEGISLATION, PARTICULARLY THOSE DEALING WITH TECHNICAL ENFORCEMENT ASPECTS. HOWEVER, THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE WAS THAT LIVESTOCK FARMERS WERE GREATLY WORRIED AND PERTURBED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEIR TRADE.

"PRIOR TO DRAWING UP THE DRAFT LEGISLATION, THE GOVERNMENT PLACED EMPHASIS ONLY ON IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION SITUATION

9AFEGUARDING WITHOUT GIVING DUE CONSIDERATION TO

THE LIVELIHOOD OF FARMERS, MR LAU POINTED OUT.

**

HE NOTED THAT THE FARMERS HAD BEEN ESCALATING THEIR ACTION FIRST THEY REQUESTED TO MEET LEGCO MEMBERS. THEN THEY HELD A MASS

FINALLY RALLY AND

ORGANISED A SIT-IN PETITION. HE BELIEVED THE FARMERS WOULD NOT HAVE RESORTED ΤΟ SUCH STRONG ACTION HAD THEIR PROBLEM BEEN LESS SERIOUS.

ALTHOUGH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAD APPROVED A GRANT AND LOAN

ABOUT SCHEME TO HELP THEM, MR LAU SAID THE FARMERS' WORRIES

THE NEW

CONTROLS WERE HARDLY DISPELLED.

MR LAU SAID FROM HIS FREQUENT CONTACT WITH LIVESTOCK HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE IN FACT VERY WILLING ΤΟ HELP THE IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

"HOWEVER, THEY CONSIDER THE DRAFT WASTE DISPOSAL WASTE) REGULATIONS 1987, ESPECIALLY THOSE PARTS CONCERNING REQUIREMENTS AND EFFLUENT STANDARD, TOO STRINGENT.

FARMERS, GOVERNMENT

(LIVESTOCK TECHNICAL

/THEY ALSO