XN000022-1987-10-14 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14.

IT IS INDEED TOO LATE TO MAKE ANY REMEDY NOW.

NEVERTHELESS 'IT IS HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, WHEN CONCEIVING AND FORMULATING ANY POLICY, WOULD LOOK INTO ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM WITH AN INSIGHT 80 AS TO AVOID BEING PLACED UNDER THE PRESSURE CAUSED BY LATE REMEDIES, MR TAM SAID.

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MR TAM SAID IN PRINCIPLE HE AGREED THE BILL WAS A POSITIVE STEP TOWARDS CONTAINING OR ALLEVIATING POLLUTION.

HE SUPPORTED THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL AND HOPED THAT THE PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES WOULD IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.

NEVERTHLESS, MR TAM FELT THE SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS AND OTHER DETAILS REGARDING CONTROL MEASURES WERE OPEN TO QUESTION.

"SO FAR NO AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE AND THE FARMERS ON THE METHODS TO BE USED TO CONTROL OR LEVEL OF POLLUTION.

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"NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE PILOT SCHEME RUN BY THE AUTHORITIES HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY REJECTED THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY THE FARMERS," MR TAM SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT WHEN INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES, THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD CONSIDER THEIR IMPACT ON OPERATORS.

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MR TAM FELT A PREFERABLE APPROACH WOULD PROGRAMME AND MODULATED SCHEME BASED ON A CONTROL STANDARD.

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IN SUMMING UP, MR TAM SAID HE HOPED THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD FURTHER DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH FARMERS WITH A VIEW TO ARRIVING AT A SOLUTION WHICH WAS BOTH EQUITABLE AND REALISTIC.

"I ALSO HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT MERELY TREAT THIS MATTER AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION PROBLEM, BUT WOULD CONSIDER ITS EFFECT ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FARMING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG AT THE SAME TIME.

MR TAM MADE A NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS WHEN TAKING PART IN EXAMINING THE BILL. MR TAM FELT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PREPARED WHEN IT INTRODUCED THE BILL.

HE SAID IT WAS ONLY VERY RECENTLY, OR AFTER THE BILL WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL AND WHEN THE FARMERS RAISED STRONG OBJECTIONS THAT, THE GOVERNMENT INVITED THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TO LAUNCH THE PILOT SCHEME.

RELEVANT TESTS ARE STILL UNDERWAY TODAY WHEN THE BILL IS UNDERGOING ITS SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.

/FURTHERMORE, THE