XN000022-1991-05-08 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1901

"FIVE MONTHS AGO, A NEWLY FORMED COMPANY CALLED ENVIROPACE, 70 PER CENT OWNED BY WASTE MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL INC OF ILLINOIS, WAS AWARDED A US$166 MILLION CONTRACT TO BUILD AND OPERATE A MAJOR CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT CENTRE IN HONG KONG.

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"OVERALL DESIGN OF THE CENTRE WILL BE HANDLED BY BECHTEL ENVIRONMENT INC OF SAN FRANCISCO, HE SAID.

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"ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT SOON TO OPEN FOR BIDS IS THE US$1.8 BILLION UPGRADE OF HONG KONG'S SEWAGE SYSTEM WHICH WILL INCLUDE ONE OF THE WORLD'S LONGEST SEA OUTFALLS, HE ADDED.

IN ADDITION TO ELIMINATING, OR AT LEAST ALLEVIATING, EXISTING PROBLEMS, MR CHAN EMPHASISED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED IT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO AVOID CREATING NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.

WORKING TOWARDS THESE ENDS INCLUDED ADOPTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS IN THE PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, MR CHAN SAID.

PROPER TREATMENT OF LIVESTOCK WASTES NEEDED

THE SUCCESS OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY DEPENDS ON EFFECTIVE CONTAINMENT OF ANIMAL WASTES THROUGH PROPER TREATMENT MEASURES AND RECYCLING PROCESSES, THE DIRECTOR OF THE KADOORIE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, PROFESSOR DANIEL CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PROF CHAN WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE RESEARCH CENTRE ΤΟ ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF HONG KONG'S FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON "MODERN TECHNOLOGY IN TREATMENT AND RECYCLING OF LIVESTOCK WASTES"

HE SAID: "THE QUEST FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS OFTEN IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH REARING LIVESTOCK ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WHERE PEOPLE, FARM ANIMALS AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY COMPETE FOR SPACE AND WATER RESOURCES.

"THERE IS A NEED, THEREFORE, FOR THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ INTRODUCE SOME FORM OF CONTROL ON DISPOSAL OF LIVESTOCK WASTES AT THIS POINT TIME.

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PROF CHAN SAID THE TIGHT PROFIT MARGIN AND LIMITED LAND SPACE IN THE TERRITORY, AS WELL AS IN MOST ASIAN REGION, IMPOSED SEVERE CONSTRAINTS ON THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY SO THAT THE TRADITIONAL MEANS OF TREATING ANIMAL WASTES WAS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.

/"THERE IS