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ANOTHER ITEM GAZETTED TODAY UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS A TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM (TM) ON EFFLUENT STANDARDS WHICH SET OUT THE PERMISSIBLE LIMITS OF EFFLUENT DISCHARGES IN A WATER CONTROL ZONE (WCZ).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE WCZ ORDERS, MADE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, WERE AIMED AT CONTROLLING THE DISCHARGES AND DEPOSITS FROM ALL SOURCES IN THE TWO ZONES, OTHER THAN DISCHARGES AND DEPOSITS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ORDERS WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND PROTECT THE BENEFICIAL USES OF THE TWO WATER CONTROL ZONES INCLUDING SEA BATHING, FISHERIES, SECONDARY CONTACT RECREATION (FOR EXAMPLE WATER-SKIING, BOATING AND CANOEING) AND GENERAL AMENITIES.

THE RELATED APPOINTED DAYS ORDERS BY WHICH THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED THE RESPECTIVE DATES FOR THE CONTROLS TO TAKE EFFECT WERE ALSO GAZETTED TODAY.

A LICENCE WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR DISCHARGES OR DEPOSITS WHICH BEGIN AFTER DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

THE DECLARATION OF THE WCZ'S 'HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE REGIONS AFFECTED BY THE NEW WCZ'S.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE TM WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT WHICH WOULD GUIDE THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WHEN LAYING DOWN STANDARDS FOR EFFLUENTS THAT WOULD BE LICENSED FOR DISCHARGE IN A WCZ.

THE TM SET DIFFERENT DISCHARGE STANDARDS DEPENDING ON THE RATE AND AREA OF DISCHARGE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID INDUSTRY WOULD FIND THE TM A USEFUL DOCUMENT AS IT WOULD GIVE THEM A CLEAR INDICATION OF WHAT STANDARDS THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET TO GET A DISCHARGE LICENCE.

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY (ENVIRONMENT) OF THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, MR MARTIN LEWIS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) OFFICERS TODAY

TODAY BRIEFED THE OMELCO PANEL ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE AND THE TM. LATER THEY ALSO BRIEFED KWAI TSING DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN MR LEE WING-TAT AND OTHER DB MEMBERS.

IT WAS NOTED THAT THE STANDARDS WERE

что GEARED ENVIRONMENTAL AIM OF ACHIEVING HONG KONG'S WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES.

THE

"THE TM IS VERY COMPREHENSIVE, AND STANDS UP WELL COMPARED то THE OTHER COUNTRIES," MR LEWIS SAID.

"WE WOULD NOT AGREE OF ANY STANDARD OR PROCEDURE THAT DID NOT ACHIEVE THIS AIM," HE SAID.

FURTHER INFORMATION OF THE WATER CONTROL ZONES AND CONTROL MEASURES, AND THE TM, IS AVAILABLE FROM THE EPD.

ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ΤΟ THE DEPARTMENT'S PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER (WATER POLICY), MR PAUL HOLMES, ON TEL. 835 1234 OR THE PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER (LIQUID WASTE CONTROL), DR MIKE CHIU TAK-LUN, ON TEL. 835 1184.

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