XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 42

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990

"TO THIS END, WE PROPOSE THAT THE PENALTIES UNDER CLAUSE 10 BE INCREASED TO A ONE-TIME FINE OF $50,000, A DAILY DEFAULT FINE OF $500 AND A MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS, HE SAID.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS IN LINE WITH OTHER PENALTIES PRESCRIBED UNDER

THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE, HE NOTED.

AMENDMENTS WERE ALSO MADE TO ENSURE THAT LOCALLY INCORPORATED COMPANIES AND OVERSEAS INCORPORATED COMPANIES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME PENALTIES.

POLLUTION CONTROL BILL WILL SAVE ENVIRONMENT

#

THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT} BILL 1990 WILL SAVE LEGCO OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM FURTHER DETERIORATION, THE CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP THAT STUDIED THE BILL, THE

EDWARD HO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR

HON

OUR

WAS

ΤΟ

RESUMED SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL DURING THE

DEBATE ON IT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

HO SAID THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT REQUIRED THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF ALL, AND HE ENCOURAGED BY

WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE POLLUTION CONTROL.

THE

INDUSTRIALISTS'

TO OUTLINING THE IMPORTANT CHANGES

EXISTING PROVISIONS ON EXEMPTIONS WHICH THE BILL SOUGHT TO INTRODUCE, HE SAID, FIRSTLY, THE RIGHT OF EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING WAS DELETED ENTIRELY FOR DISCHARGES IN FUTURE WATER CONTROL ZONES.

SECONDLY, IN EXISTING

WATER CONTROL ZONES, THE RIGHT OF EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING WAS DELETED ENTIRELY AFTER TWO YEARS AND REPLACED BY A RIGHT TO A LICENCE UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS.

THE

DIRECTOR OF WHICH

THIRDLY, WHEN SETTING LICENSING CONDITIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WAS TO BE QUIDED BY EFFLUENT STANDARDS WERE TO BE LAID DOWN IN A TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS.

MR HO SAID IT WAS ASSESSED THAT NINE TRADES GENERATED

AND SIGNIFICANT VOLUME OF EFFLUENTS

THAT 11,500 ESTABLISHMENTS THESE TRADES WOULD INCUR ADDITIONAL COSTS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THE BILL.

IN OF

HE NOTED THAT REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED BY HIS GROUP WERE GENERALLY IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO CONTROL WATER POLLUTION. HOWEVER, VIEWS WERE CONFLICTING ON THE TIMING OF THE BILL.

/AFTER HEARING