XN000022-1988-07-29 — Page 8

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 1988

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SOUTHERN WATERS DECLARED CONTRÓL ZONE

THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE WATERS OF HONG KONG WATER CONTROL ZONE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL CONTROL ZONE) ORDER 1988 GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

WAS DECLARED A (SOUTHERN WATER

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ORDER, MADE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, WAS AIMED AT COMBATTING THE INCREASING PROBLEM OF MICROBIAL POLLUTION IN BATHING BEACHES IN THE SOUTHERN WATERS OF HONG KONG CAUSED MAINLY BY DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE,

THE SOUTHERN WATER CONTROL ZONE STATEMENT OF WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES, ALSO GAZETTED TODAY, SETS OUT THE WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN WATER CONTROL ZONE.

"THESE OBJECTIVES ARE SO DEFINED THAT THE EXISTING AND DESIRED BENEFICIAL USES OF THE SOUTHERN WATERS SUCH AS SWIMMING, FISH CULTURE, AND SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION (FOR EXAMPLE WATER SKIING, BOATING, CANOEING) ARE SAFEGUARDED," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SOUTHERN WATER CONTROL ZONE INCLUDES BOTH INLAND AND MARINE WATER BODIES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF LANTAU AND HONG KONG ISLAND, AND ALL THE OUTLYING ISLANDS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF HONG KONG.

SEWAGE FROM ALL SOURCES WILL BE SUBJECT TO CONTROL UNDER THE

INDUSTRIAL LEGISLATION, EXCEPT THAT ARISING FROM

PREMISES AND THAT DISCHARGED TO PUBLIC FOUL SEWERS.

AN

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS WERE EXCLUDED FROM CONTROL IN LINE WITH

AGREEMENT REACHED WITH THE OMELCO ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS PANEL THAT NO FURTHER WATER POLLUTION CONTROLS WOULD BE IMPOSED ON INDUSTRY UNTIL THE IMPACT OF THE CONTROLS IN TOLO HARBOUR HAD BEEN ASSESSED.

"THIS LIMITATION IS NOT EXPECTED TO DETRACT SERIOUSLY FROM THE SOUTHERN WATER CONTROL ZONE EXERCISE, AS THERE ARE FEW INDUSTRIAL PREMISES IN THE AREA,' THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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UNDER THE LEGISLATION, A LICENCE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR A DISCHARGE OF SEWAGE WHICH BEGINS AFTER AUGUST 1 THIS YEAR.

ALL EXISTING DISCHARGES

THOSE THAT BEGAN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1 MAY BE EXEMPT IF THE GOVERNMENT 15 NOTIFIED OF THE DETAILS BY APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR, PROVIDING THE DISCHARGE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH.

IT 15 INTENDED THAT

IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER QUALITY

THESE MEASURES SHOULD BRING ABOUT AT BEACHES BEFORE THE NEXT

BATHING

SEASON.

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