XN000022-1988-04-27 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988

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LONG AND SHORT-TERM MEASURES TO TACKLE WATER POLLUTION

*

THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF HONG KONG'S BATHING BEACHES AND MEASURES RANGING FROM SHORT TO LONG TERM WOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT BEACHES AND COASTAL WATERS WERE PROTECTED AGAINST POLLUTION.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR CHAMBERS

BY DISCHARGES SAID THE POLLUTION WAS MAINLY CAUSED

OF SEWAGE FROM AND FACILITIES

THE INADEQUATE OR BADLY OPERATED

PROBLEM WAS COMPOUNDED BY RAPID POPULATION INCREASES IN CERTAIN AREAS.

TREATMENT

"THE LONG TERM SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS THE PROVISION OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES SO THAT EXISTING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS CAN BE CONNECTED TO MAIN PUBLIC SEWERS.

PROPER

"TO ACHIEVE THIS END, AN OVERAL SEWAGE STRATEGY FOR THE WHOLE OF TERRITORY, AND MASTER PLANS FOR DIFFERENT AREAS (SUCH AS THE SOUTH HONG KONG ISLAND) ARE BEING DEVELOPED UNDER SEPARATE CONSULTANCIES.

"TO IMPLEMENT THESE

PLANS WILL REQUIRE AN EXPENDITURE OF SOME $10 BILLION AND A PHASED PROGRAMME OF 10 YEARS.

TI

ESTIMATED WORKS OVER

ON THE MEDIUM TERM SOLUTION, MR CHAMBERS SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO TACKLE AT SOURCE THE SEWAGE POLLUTION PROBLEMS OF BATHING BEACHES USING THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.

ONLY IN THE TOLO RONG'S ONLY WATER CONTROL

"THE ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED

PRESENT HONG HARBOUR AREA, WHICH IS AT ZONE, HE SAID.

F1

"WE PLAN TO DECLARE THE SOUTHERN WATERS AS THE SECOND WATER

AND THIS WILL CONTROL ZONE LATER THIS YEAR,

COVER ALL OF THE 22 BATHING BEACHES IN THE SOUTHERN AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS.

"INITIALLY, ALL SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES IN THIS PROPOSED WATER CONTROL ZONE, INCLUDING SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND SEPTIC

ALSO WILL

BE TANKS, WILL BE CONTROLLED. LATER, INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS INCLUDED.'

WATER

SIMILAR CONTROLS WOULD EVENTUALLY BE EXTENDED TO THE REST OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF HONG KONG, FOLLOWING THEIR DECLARATION AS CONTROL ZONES, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THE WAN

ESTIMATED

"IN ADDITION, SHORT TERM WORKS 'TO INTERCEPT AND DIVERT STORMWATER DRAINS RUNNING INTO REPULSE BAY, STANLEY MAIN AND TUNG BEACHES ARE PLANNED TO BE CARRIED OUT THIS YEAR, AT A TOTAL COST OF $6.2 MILLION, HE CONTINUED.

"THESE SURFACE