XN000022-1989-08-03 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1989

DRAFT WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN PUBLISHED

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE PUBLICATION TODAY (THURSDAY) OF A DRAFT WASTE DISPOSAL PLAN FOR HONG KONG AND INVITED PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PLANS FOR WASTE DISPOSAL INTO THE NEXT CENTURY.

SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON, THE ACTING DEPUTY SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT) FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR ANTHONY COOPER, SAID THE DRAFT PLAN COMPREHENSIVELY EXPLAINED EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF WASTES.

HE OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING THE ADEQUACY OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS THROUGH THE STRUCTURED DEVELOPMENT OF NEW WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES.

"THE DRAFT PLAN DETAILS DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE 30,000 TONNES OF SOLID AND SEMI-SOLID WASTES THAT WE PREDICT WILL BE GENERATED DAILY IN THE YEAR 2001 WILL BE DISPOSED OF IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE MANNER, MR COOPER SAID.

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THE DRAFT PLAN, WHICH HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY

COMMITTEE.

THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE ALSO BEEN BRIEFED ON THE DRAFT PLAN, AND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO FORWARD THEIR VIEWS DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD.

FOLLOWING THE PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION, THE DRAFT PLAN WILL BE REVISED IN THE LIGHT OF COMMENTS RECEIVED BEFORE BEING SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

MR COOPER SAID THAT UNDER THE NEW WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY, THREE VERY LARGE LANDFILLS ARE BEING DEVELOPED IN REMOTER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

OF

REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES WILL DELIVER WASTE TO A NETWORK REFUSE TRANSFER STATIONS WHERE IT WILL BE COMPACTED FOR BULK SHIPMENT TO THE LANDFILL SITES.

WILL

THESE FACILITIES

OPERATE ΤΟ THE HIGHEST WORLDWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, AND WILL ENABLE THE ENVIRONMENTALLY UNACCEPTABLE URBAN INCINERATORS TO BE PHASED OUT.

"THE GOVERNMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE PROCESSES IN THE WASTE DISPOSAL CHAIN, FROM INITIAL COLLECTION TO THE POINT OF FINAL DISPOSAL, ARE PERFORMED TO THE HIGHEST PRACTICABLE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, MR COOPER STRESSED.

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