XN000022-1991-12-11 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1991

GOVT'S COMMITMENT IN SEWAGE STRATEGY REAFFIRMED

THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR GRAHAM BARNES, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) REAFFIRMED THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION IN TACKLING SEWAGE DISPOSAL.

SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE STRATEGIC SEWAGE DISPOSAL SCHEME, MR BARNES HIGHLIGHTED THE ENORMOUS PUBLIC EXPENDITURE EARMARKED FOR SEWAGE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE AMOUNT AND VALUE OF SEWERAGE CONSTRUCTION WORK NOW BEING CARRIED OUT TERRITORY-WIDE WAS ENORMOUS AND WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE HARBOUR AND ELSEWHERE.

SOME OF THE MAJOR SCHEMES OUTLINED ARE:

* THE $1.3 BILLION NORTH WEST KOWLOON SEWAGE TREATMENT AND

DISPOSAL SCHEME TO BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR;

THE $0.5 BILLION STAGE I EFFLUENT EXPORT SCHEME TIN AND TAI PO TO VICTORIA HARBOUR, EXPECTED TOBE IN 1993;

FROM SHA COMPLETED

THE AWARD OF CONTRACTS TOTALLING $0.8 BILLION FOR IMPROVING SEWAGE DISPOSAL ON HONG KONG ISLAND;

*

THE EAST KOWLOON SEWERAGE

EARLY NEXT YEAR; AND

IMPROVEMENT SCHEME то COMMENCE

*

THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES SEWERAGE SCHEME, SERVING THE TIN SHUI WAI AREA, COSTING $2.2 BILLION.

ON THE REMAINING MASTERPLANS, MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT FULLY ACCEPTED THE NEEDS TO PROCEED WITH THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY AS SOON AS RESOURCES PERMIT.

BUT THE STRATEGY IS AN INTEGRATED ONE AND, ALTHOUGH THE STAGING IS FLEXIBLE UP TO A POINT, IT IS ALL DIRECTED TOWARDS LEADING OUR TREATED SEWAGE INTO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

"SO WE MUST COMPLETE THE STUDIES TO ENSURE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE WHOLE SCHEME AND TO REASSURE THE APPROPRIATE CHINESE AUTHORITIES ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUITABILITY OF THE SCHEME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE," HE SAID.

ON FINANCING, MR BARNES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS ANALYSING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS AND THE GENERAL ACCEPTABILITY OF CHARGING FOR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE OF DIFFERENT KINDS.

"WHEN WE HAVE TAKEN THIS STUDY A LITTLE FURTHER, IT WILL THEN BE FOR DECISION WHETHER IT IS BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ACCEPT THE ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF CHARGES IN ORDER TO START THE PROJECT EARLIER, OR TO ACCEPT WHAT MAY BE SEVERAL YEARS OF DELAY AND CONSEQUENTLY WORSE POLLUTION OF OUR SEAS, HE ADDED.

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