XN000022-1988-12-22 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1988

FARMERS URGED TO HELP IN IMPROVING ENVIRONMENT

LIVESTOCK FARMERS WERE URGED TODAY (THURSDAY) TO JOIN TOGETHER IN A COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND PLAY THEIR PART IN HELPING TO ACHIEVE THE AIM OF A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,

THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, WAS SPEAKING TO THE MEDIA AFTER THE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENTED W1TH A PETITION LETTER BY A PARTY OF OVER 100 LIVESTOCK FARMERS FROM THE TERRITORIES.

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HE INVITED THE LEADERS OF THE DELEGATION FOR DISCUSSION WHEN THE FARMERS ARRIVED AT THE EPD HEADQUARTERS. THE FARMERS LEFT AFTER PRESENTING THE PETITION.

DR REED POINTED OUT THAT WHILE HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS MATTERS WITH THE FARMERS CONCERNED THE GOVERNMENT HAD ESTABLISHED A LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, AND THAT THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE HELD IN MID-JANUARY,

ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS PUT FORWARD BY THE FARMERS WAS THAT MANY FARMERS IN THE PROHIBITION AREAS HAD NOT YET BEEN GIVEN THEIR COMPENSATION,

DR REED SAID THAT OUT ALLOWANCE, 367 CHEQUES HAD AWAITING COLLECTION.

OF 510 FARMS

ELIGIBLE FOR EX-GRATIA ALREADY DEEN COLLECTED, THE 120 WERE

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"THIS LEAVES ONLY 23 CASES OUTSTANDING AND THESE ALL RELATE FARMERS WHO CEASED OPERATION ONLY VERY RECENTLY RATHER THAN ON JUNE 24, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, HE SAID.

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"WE HAVE PROSECUTED NINE FARMERS, BUT EVEN THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE WHEN THEY CEASE OPERATION, HE ADDED.

"IN ALL THE COMMOTION ABOUT LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROLS, WE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT FOR MANY YEARS IT HAS BEEN ILLEGAL TO DISPOSE OF UNTREATED LIVESTOCK WASTES TO STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND FARMERS HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED FOR DOING THIS IN THE PAST," DR REED SAID.

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CHANGED WAS BECAUSE THE

'THE REASON WHY THE LEGISLATION WAS OLD PROCEDURES WERE SIMPLY TOO CUMBERSOME, DR REED EXPLAINED.

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"30 THE COMMUNITY, THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT, WILL BE PAYING FARMERS SOMETHING LIKE $250 MILLION

MILLION IN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE AND CAPITAL GRANTS TO STOP WHAT ARE BASICALLY ILLEGAL PRACTICES."

DR REED ALSO EXPRESSED HIS ANXIETY THAT THE DESIGN WORK THAT IS IN PROGRESS ON NEW PROJECTS TO CONTROL POLLUTION, AND THE L-RGE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT WILL FOLLOW ON SUCH THINGS

AS NEW SEVERAGE IN THE RURAL AREAS, EXPORT OF EFFLUENT FROM TOLO HARBOUR, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE TO CONTROL INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER EFFLUENTS AND SO ON, COULD BE UNDERMINED IF LIVESTOCK WASTES ARE NOT CHECKED.

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