XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

HK MUST REMAIN A FIT PLACE TO LIVE

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THERE IS NO POINT OF SAVING AND BUILDING HONG KONG AS OUR IF THE TERRITORY IS NO LONGER A FIT PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE, THE HON PETER WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR WONG WAS LEADING OFF DEBATE ON HIS MOTION ON THE WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION.

THE MOTION READ: "THAT THIS COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE AIMS OF THE 'WHITE PAPER ON POLLUTION IN HONG KONG - A TIME TO ACT' AND URGES EVERYBODY TO KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT CLEAN"

MR WONG, CONVENER OF A LEGCO AD HOC FOR THE DEBATE, SAID HONG KONG NEEDED A NEW WHICH WAS NOT JUST AN EXTENSION OF THE KEEP

GROUP FORMED ΤΟ PREPARE PERCEPTION ON POLLUTION HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN.

"IT IS NOT ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE PITCH IN WITH THEIR LITTER ONLY. THEIR PERCEPTION MUST INCREASINGLY BE BASED ON WHAT IS ESSENTIAL ΤΟ MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WAY OF LIFE AS OPPOSED TO REMEDIAL MEASURES USED TO ATTEMPT TO CLEAR UP THE MESS, HE SAID.

"

ON THE QUESTION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT, MR WONG SAID THAT KONG PRODUCED ABOUT 16,000 TONS OF SOLID WASTE EVERY DAY.

HONG

OF THIS, 3,000 TONS WAS SEPARATED AND RECYCLED.

A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT WAS DUMPED, UNTREATED IN LANDFILLS.

THIS

WAS LIKE SWEEPING THE DUST UNDER THE CARPET.

HE AGREED WITH THE WHITE PAPER THAT THE KEY TO THE PROBLEM TO REDUCE AND RESTRICT THE GENERATION OF WASTES THAT GAVE RISE TO LIITER PROBLEM.

WAS

THE

MR WONG SUGGESTED THAT INCENTIVE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY TO COLLECT SEPARATED HOUSEHOLD WASTE, SIMILAR TO PRACTICES IN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES WHERE ALUMINIUM DRINK CANS, BEER BOTTLES AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS ALL HAD DEPOSITS CHARGED ON

SALE, AND REFUNDED UPON THEIR RETURN FOR RECYCLING.

HONG KONG PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO USE FEWER UNNECESSARY ITEMS SUCH AS ELABORATE PACKAGING.

BATTERY

AT THE SAME TIME, THE IDEA OF STARTING BOTTLE BANKS, BANKS AND PLASTIC BAG BANKS SHOULD BE ACTIVELY PURSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS, HE SUGGESTED.

ALL THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS WERE ONLY GOOD INTENTIONS CLEAR AND STRONG LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED AND RIGIDLY ENFORCED, MR WONG SAID.

/VERY LITTLE