XN000022-1988-05-19 — Page 2

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1988

GOVERNOR ENCOURAGED BY ANTI-POLLUTION WORK

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IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE HOW MUCH IS ALREADY BEING PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG, BUT CLEARLY MUCH MORE BE DONE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, SAID AT THE BRIEFING DURING HIS VISIT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (EPD) TODAY (THURSDAY).

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'IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HONG KONG AS A WORTHWHILE PLACE TO LIVE, SIR DAVID ADDED.

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DURING HIS VISIT, THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEFED BY THE DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, ON THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL PROGRAMME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST DECADE.

DR REED REFERRED то THE CREATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT; ENACTMENT AND ENFORCEMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION; INTRODUCTION OF COMPREHENSIVE POLLUTION MONITORING DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITIES FOR COLLECTING, TREATING AND WASTES.

SCHEMES; AND DISPOSING OF

THERE WAS ALSO THE PROGRESS MADE IN INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO THE PLANNING PROCES3, SO AS TO AVOID FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

FOLLOWING THE GENERAL BRIEFING, THE GOVERNOR WAS GIVEN A DEMONSTRATION OF THE EPD'S STATE-OF-THE-ART AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND TELEMETRY SYSTEM.

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IN ANOTHER PRESENTATION, HE WAS SHOWN EXAMPLES OF THE WAY IN WHICH INADEQUATE PLANNING CONTROLS CAN LEAD TO THE CREATION ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

SIR DAVID WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON PROJECTS TO STEM THE WATER POLLUTION IN THE TERRITORY.

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HE WAS TOLD THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT ESTIMATED THAT THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING THESE PROJECTS WOULD ADD UP TO AROUND $1 BILLION EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 12 YEARS.

"CLEARLY THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL DEMAND ON THE PUBLIC PURSE AND IT WILL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER WORTHWHILE PROJECTS, SIR DAVID SAID, REFERRING TO THE EPD'S SEWAGE CONTROL

PROPOSALS.

"BUT DEALING WITH OUR SEWAGE PROBLEMS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF DEVELOPING A MODERN CITY, JUST LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITALS AND POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES. IT IS A KEY ASPECT OF LOOKING AFTER THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

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"THE PROBLEMS WE NOW FACE FROM WATER POLLUTION SHOW THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO NEGLECT THIS PART OF OUR URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE, HE ADDED.

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