XN000022-1988-06-23 — Page 3

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THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1988

LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME TAKES EFFECT TOMORROW

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WASTE DISPOSAL (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1987 WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

STARTING FROM TOMORROW, LIVESTOCK KEEPING WILL BE BANNED IN THE LIVESTOCK WASTE PROHIBITION AREAS.

THE PROHIBITION AREAS COVER HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON, SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND ENVIRONS, AND PARTS OF TAI PO, TSUEN WAN, KWAI TSING, TUEN MUN, FANLING AND SHEUNG SHUI, YUEN LONG, TIN SHUI WAI AND JUNK BAY NEW TOWNS.

FARMERS IN THESE AREAS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AN EX-GRATIA TO COMPENSATE FOR GIVING UP THE LIVESTOCK KEEPING.

ALLOWANCE

AREAS HAVE

SO FAR, SOME 600 FARM OPERATORS IN THE PROHIBITION APPLIED FOR THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND PAYMENTS ARE BEING PROCESSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD).

CONTROLS IN RELATION TO THE COLLECTION, STORAGE, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF LIVESTOCK WASTE IN THE FIRST THREE CONTROL AREAS COVERING TOLO HARBOUR AND TOLO CHANNEL, MUI WO AND ANGLER'S BEACH AREAS WILL ALSO BE EFFECTIVE FROM TOMORROW.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT SAID CONTROLS IN THE FIRST THREE AREAS WILL BE REGARDED AS A PILOT SCHEME AND WILL NOT BE EXTENDED TO OTHER CONTROL AREAS BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF A REVIEW OF THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS NOW BEING SET UP ON PRIVATE FARMS.

UNDER THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHENE, FARMERS IN CONTROL AREAS CAN APPLY FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE IF THEY WISH TO CEASE LIVESTOCK KEEPING. THOSE WHO WISH TO CONTINUE CAN APPLY ΤΟ EPD FOR CAPITAL GRANTS AND LOANS TO INSTALL NECESSARY TREATMENT FACILITIES.

EPD'S EIGHT ADVISORY TEAMS HAVE VISITED OVER 300 FARMS IN THE FIRST THRER CONTROL AREAS AND HAVE ADVISED FARMERS WHO WISH ΤΟ CONTINUK LIVESTOCK KEEPING ON

THE WASTE TREATMENT

MOST

APPROPRIATE TO EACH FARM.

THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR CAPITAL GRANTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TREATMENT PLANTS.

METHOD

FROM FARMERS

IN ADDITION, FARMERS IN THE CONTROL AREAS ARE ABLE ΤΟ UTILISE THE LIVESTOCK WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE PROVIDED BY EPD SINCE LAST YEAR AT THE 104 CONVENIENT COLLECTION POINTS IN THE THRER CONTROL AREAS.

THREE CONTROL OR CAPITAL

FARMERS IN THE PROHIBITION AREAS AND THE FIRST AREAS WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED FOR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES GRANTS ARE URGED TO DO SO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

FOR ENQUIRIES, THEY CAN CONTACT RPD AT TELEPHONE

3-7801165 OR

3-7800126.

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