XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989 ·

TO HELP INDUSTRY REDUCE THE COST OF POLLUTION CONTROL, MR TIEN SUGGESTED THAT NEW SEWERS OF ADEQUATE SIZE BE CONSTRUCTED FRIOR ΤΟ THE DECLARATION OF A NEW WATER CONTROL ZONE OR PRIOR TO CONTROLLING INDUSTRIAL WASTE WATER FROM AN AREA WHICH HAD BEEN DECLARED A WATER CONTROL ZONE.

ON THE PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF INDUSTRIAL FUEL OIL WITH A SULPHUR CONTENT EXCEEDING 0.5 PER CENT BY WEIGHT, HE SAIN SULPHUR DIOXIDE WAS ONLY ONE OF MANY AIR POLLUTANTS.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STATE THE AMOUNT OF REDUCTION OF AIK POLLUTANT WHICH WOULD RESULT FROM THE USE OF FUEL OIL HAVING A LOW SULPHUR CONTENT.

"THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO STATE THE COST IMPLICATIONS TO HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY TO INDUSTRY SUCH AS THE TEXTILE, BLEACHING AND DYEING INDUSTRY AND ITS DOWNSTREAM INDUSTRY, NAMELY THE GARMENT INDUSTRY, HE SAID.

MR TIEN ALSO SAID THAT FARMERS WERE GETTING MUCH MORE THAN JUST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR CONTROLLING AGRICULTURAL WASTE.

HE SUGGESTED THAT OPERATORS OF SMALL FACTORIES WHO FINANCIALLY NOT MUCH STRONGER THAN FARMERS SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN ASSISTANCE.

WERE SUCH

ON SMOKE EMISSION FROM VEHICLES, MR. TIEN HOPED THAT THE CONTROL STANDARDS FOR SUCH EMISSIONS COULD BE DRASTICALLY IMPROVED.

MR TIEN ADDED THAT THE KEY TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF POLLUTION ESSENTIALLY RESTED WITH SELF-DISCIPLINE.

LAW.

A

THIS WAS NOT TO DENY THE NEED FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF THE BUT THE POLICING OF POLLUTERS WAS ONLY LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF POLICEMAN STOOD BEHIND EVERY WOULD-BE POLLUTER, HE SAID.

SUBSTANTIAL DEMAND FOR SEPARATE TAXATION

* *

ONLY

KONG NOT

THE DECISION TO INTRODUCE SEPARATE TAXATION IN HONG HAS THE SUPPORT OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS BUT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DEMAND FOR IT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID NENDICK, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE

INLAND REVENUE

I AMENDMENT) (NO,2) BILL 1989, MR NENDICK SAID THE DECISION WAS ALSO CONSISTENT 1.I TH THE TREND IN THIS DIRECTION IN OTHER

ADMINISTRATIONS.

TAX

/NOTING THAT