XN000022-1988-06-08 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1988

MEASURES BEING TAKEN TO PROTECT WILDLIFE RESERVE

DESPITE THE GENERAL DETERIORATION OF WATER QUALITY IN DEEP BAY, A MAJOR STUDY COMMISSIONED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE MAI PO WILDLIFE RESERVE HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY POLLUTION, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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

SAID THE MANGROVES, WHICH FORMED THE PRINCIPAL PLANT COMMUNITY,

APPEARED TO BE UNAFFECTED AND THERE HAD BEEN NO REDUCTION 1N THE SPECIES AND NUMBER OF BIRDS REPORTED IN THE AREA.

MR CHAMBERS SAID DEEP BAY WAS AN ENCLOSED BODY OF WATER WITH LIMITED CIRCULATION AND WAS, LIKE TOLO HARBOUR, AFFECTED BY SIMILAR POLLUTION PROBLEMS.

THE STUDY, AIMED AT REVIEWING THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEEP BAY AND ASSESSING THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE AREA, HAD SHOWN THAT POLLUTION LEVELS IN THE INNER PART OF DEEP BAY WERE VERY HIGH AND THAT THE MAJOR SOURCE OF THIS POLLUTION WAS ORGANIC WASTE FROM LIVESTOCK FARMING.

MR

"TO PROTECT THE WILDLIFE RESERVE, THE MARSHES HAVE BEEN DRSIGNATED AS A RESTRICTED AREA AND PUBLIC ACCESS IS LIMITED,

CHAMBERS SAID.

"

יף ד

IS PATROLLED BY NATURE WARDENS AND AN EDUCATION CENTRE IIAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION.'

IN ADDITION, TWO MAJOR INITIATIVES WERE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE

THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEEP BAY, HE SAID.

THESE WERE THE EXTENSION OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME TO THE YURN LONG AREA IN 1991 AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TRUNK SEWER TO CARRY SEWAGE FROM TIN SHUI WAI NEW TOWN то DISCHARGE INTO THR URMSTON ROAD, WHICH WAS PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN 1992.

"THE FINAL STAGE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF DEEP BAY WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN JULY THIS YEAR, WILL RECOMMEND MEASURES ΤΟ BE INCORPORATED INTO THE VARIOUS FLOOD CONTROL, DRAINAGE AND OTHRE PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE AREA, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

"IT IS INTENDED THAT THESE MEASURES SHOULD PROVIDE FURTHE PROTECTION TO THE MAI PO MARSHES AND OTHER IMPORTANT CONSERVATION

TH

AREAS IN DEEP BAY, HE ADDED.

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