XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

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"HOWEVER, WE FEEL THAT WHILE THE WHITE PAPER HAS QUOTED FIGURES AND STATISTICS TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTANTS GENERATED BY THE COMMUNITY, IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE A CRITICAL ANALYSIS TO ESTABLISH THAT THE TREND IS TOWARDS FURTHER DETERIORATION UNLESS THE ACTIONS SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER ARE IMPLEMENTED, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF TODAY STEMMED FROM THE GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF LONG-TERM AND WELL-CO-ORDINATED PLANNING IN THE PAST.

"IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO REQUIRE COMPANIES WHICH HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS INGOOD FAITH AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION PREVAILING AT THE TIME OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT, TO SHOULDER ALL BY THEMSELVES A HEAVY FINANCIAL BURDEN NOW ΤΟ COMPLY WITH SOME NEWLY ENACTED LEGISLATION, MR CHEONG SAID.

IT

THE FEDERATION'S POSITION WAS THAT A SENSIBLE BALANCE MUST BE STRUCK BETWEEN WHAT WAS ENVIRONMENTALLY DESIRABLE AND WHAT WAS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.

IN CONSIDERING LEGISLATIVE CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT, IT WAS ALL TOO EASY TO PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE PUNITIVE ELEMENT.

HE SUBMITTED THAT ENCOURAGING MANUFACTURERS TO ADOPT POLLUTION REDUCTION MEASURES THROUGH THE USE OF INCENTIVES WOULD PROVE ΤΟ BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

"WE PROPOSE THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN, FOR INSTANCE, TO THE GRANTING OF LOW INTEREST LOANS BY THE GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS," HE SAID.

ΤΟ

TURNING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EDUCATION, MR CHEONG SAID THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER SEEMED ΤΟ BE GEARED TOWARDS ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS IN THE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SETTING.

"WE SUBMIT THAT INDUSTRIALISTS, TOO, NEED TO BE THE WAYS AND MEANS OF CONTAINING AND REDUCING POLLUTION, IMPORTANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT IS WRONG AND WHAT CAN BE DONE THE WRONG."

EDUCATED ON AND IT IS ΤΟ CORRECT

WHO

MR CHEONG ADDED THAT THE IMPRESSION OF SOME INDUSTRIALISTS, HAD EXTENSIVE DEALINGS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST, WAS THAT THERE WAS NO REAL ABILITY YET IN THE DEPARTMENT TO TELL INDUSTRY UP-FRONT IN EXACT TERMS WHAT STANDARDS ONE HAD TO ACHIEVE.

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"A FREQUENTLY ADOPTED MODUS OPERANDI IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT ΤΟ REQUEST FROM THE INDUSTRY A CONSULTANT'S STUDY ON THE PROBLEM, HE SAID.

HE HOPED THESE WERE ONLY ISOLATED INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND HE URGED STRONGLY THAT ATTEMPTS BE MADE TO TRY TO DRAW UP DEFINITIVE UP-FRONT CRITERIA FOR INDIVIDUAL FACTORIES TO FOLLOW.

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