XN000022-1990-05-23 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1990

ALL DISCHARGERS IN FUTURE WATER CONTROL ZONES WOULD HAVE ΤΟ APPLY FOR LICENCES. AND THE AUTHORITY, IN GRANTING LICENCES, WOULD BE GUIDED BY THE STANDARDS IN THE TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM.

SECONDLY, MR OXLEY SAID, WHILE THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THERE WOULD BE COPTS TO INDUSTRY IN COMPLYING WITH THE NEW PROVISIONS, THESE COSTS NEED NOT BE ONEROUS.

"THERE ARE SEVERAL PEASONS FOR SAYING THIS, HE SAID.

FIRSTLY, ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY WILL FACE EFFLUENT TREATMENT COSTS.

"SECONDLY, THERE IS SCOPE FOR REDUCING COSTS THROUGH WASTE MINIMISATION IN THE FACTORY.

"THIRDLY, RECYCLING OF SOME VALUABLE RAW MATERIALS AND ENERGY, ESPECIALLY HEAT, CAN REDUCE POLLUTION CONTROL COSTS DRAMATICALLY.

"AND FOURTHLY, UPGRADING PRODUCTION PLANT AND PROCESSES CAN INCREASE PROFITABILITY AS WELL AS REDUCE POLLUTION LOADS."

THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS REPLACING THE PRESENT OUTDATED SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM WITH A COMPREHENSIVE NEW SCHEME, REQUIRING A TOTAL INVESTMENT IN EXCESS OF $15 BILLION.

H

"WITHOUT THIS INVESTMENT, THE DIRECT COSTS TO INDUSTRY OF MEETING EVEN MINIMAL EFFLUENT STANDARDS WOULD BE MANY TIMES HIGHER, HE SAID.

HE SAID SOME INDUSTRIAL SECTORS HAD CLAIMED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE SPACE TO INSTALL THE EFFLUENT TREATMENT EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO MEET THE PROPOSED STANDARDS.

IF THAT WERE THE CASE, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK AT THEIR DATA, AND WOULD FIND WAYS TO EASE THEIR PROBLEMS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

BE RESTORED

"HOWEVER, I MUST STRESS THAT OUR ENVIRONMENT MUST ΤΟ A TOLERABLE CONDITION, SO THERE MAY BE A NEED FOR SOME RESTRUCTURING, MR OXLEY SAID. ·

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HE ADDED THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THESE PROPOSED REFORMS BE TAKEN FORWARD IN A SPIRIT OF CO-OPERATION.

RECORDS

AS FOR HONG KONG'S WATERS GENERALLY, THERE HAD BEEN A MORE OR LESS STEADY DECLINE IN EVERY MAJOR POLLUTION INDICATOR SINCE BEGAN IN 1972, HE SAID.

LIMITED,

CONTROL, TREATMENT

"THE WASTE RECEIVING CAPACITY OF OUR COASTAL WATER IS AND URGENT ACTION IS NOW REQUIRED FOR THE PROPER AND DISPOSAL OF ENORMOUS QUANTITIES OF WASTES GENERATED BY OUR POPULATION AND OUR INDUSTRIES, HE STRESSED.

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DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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