XN000022-1989-11-23 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1989

"SUPPOSE A MILLION PEOPLE CAST THEIR VOTES. THE TIME REQUIRED FOR MANUAL COUNTING WOULD BE MORE THAN 12 HOURS." HE SAID.

"OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION WITHIN A FEW HOURS AFTER IT HAS FINISHED.

"WE ARE THINKING OF MAKING

USE OF COMPUTER-OPERATED OPTICAL MARK READERS TO DO THE WORK, AND THE ESTIMATED COST IS ABOUT $18 MILLION.

"OUR ESTIMATED BASIC REQUIREMENT IS A SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROCESSING 1.5 MILLION BALLOT PAPERS WITHIN THREE HOURS. AND ALSO CAPABLE OF EXPANSION TO MEET FUTURE NEEDS.'

THE IN-DEPTH FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

ACTION PLAN IN HAND ON FLOATING REFUSE

NEW MEASURES ARE IN HAND TO TACKLE OF FLOATING REFUSE IN HONG KONG'S HARBOUR.

THE

LONG-STANDING PROBLEM

GROUP

ON FLOATING REFUSE, HAS

LANDS BRANCH (PELB)

A SPECIAL TASKFORCE, THE STEERING SET UP UNDER THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVISED A 30-POINT ACTION PLAN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM.

THE ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ITS MEETING ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 201.

WHO IS ALSO PELB, SAID: "THE

ON A BLOT BUT A HAZARD TO SHIPPING AND

T

THE STEERING GROUP'S CHAIRMAN, MR ANTHONY COOPER, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY ENVIRONMENT) OF THE PROBLEM OF FLOATING REFUSE IS NOT ONLY UNSIGHTLY THE WORLD'S MOST BEAUTIFUL HARBOURS UNNECESSARY CHARGE TO GOVERNMENT,"

—

ONE

OF AN

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THE LEVEL AT ABOUT 16 TONNES A DAY.

OF

FLOATING REFUSE

THIS

RESULT IS THE

OF WIDESPREAD

LITTERING.

CONTROL

INDISCRIMINATE

THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE DIFFICULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL

AND ALONG WATERFRONT AREAS

THE PROBLEM OF SCAVENGING SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING REFUSE IN A LARGE AND BUSY HARBOUR.

MR COOPER SAID A PRINCIPAL

FEATURE OF THE PLAN 13 A BOLD

GETS INTO THE HABOUR. ENGINEERING ATTEMPT TO TRAP REFUSE BEFORE IT

POR MORE EFFECTIVE OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE PROPOSALS

COLLECTION OF FLOATING REFUSE AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT AGAINST MARINE LITTERING.

/ON THE