XN000022-1992-08-06 — Page 2

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1992

1

GOVERNMENT TO FURTHER IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT

THE

GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO A

COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG WILL ACHIEVE ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHOUT DEGRADING THE ENVIRONMENT.

IN A DETAILED REPLY TO THE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH'S LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR LAST MONTH, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, EXPLAINED GOVERNMENT'S PLAN OF ACTIONS TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

AND

ON WATER POLLUTION, MR EASON SAID: "MUCH IS BEING DONE TO PLAN BUILD URGENTLY NEW SEWAGE, TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL WORKS, AND THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE SEWAGE STRATEGY.

"IT IS ALSO EXPLORING VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR FUNDING THE MAJOR PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS VIA CHARGES FOR SEWAGE SERVICES."

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DECLARE THE EASTERN AND WESTERN BUFFER WATER CONTROL ZONES IN MID-1993 AND TO DESIGNATE NO LATER THAN 1995, VICTORIA HARBOUR AS THE LAST OF THE 10 WATER CONTROL ZONES OUT IN THE FIRST REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHITE PAPER IN 1991.

SET

REGARDING RECYCLING OF WASTE PAPER, MR EASON SAID MANY RESIDENTIAL ESTATES AND OFFICES HAD WASTE PAPER SEPARATION AND COLLECTION SCHEMES IN PLACE AND NEARLY 75 PER CENT OF WASTE PAPER WAS RECOVERED.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEKING TO EXTEND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS BY INCREASING THE PUBLIC'S ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS GENERALLY AND BY MAINTAINING THE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ON RECYCLING.

ON ENERGY CONSERVATION, MR EASON SAID IN FUTURE COMPANIES WOULD BE REQUIRED UNDER THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL TO MEASURES TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION.

THE POWER FORMULATE

IN THE POLICY FOR

MOREOVER, THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS PROCESS OF FORMULATING A COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY HONG HONG.

ON MEASURES TO ABATE VEHICLE EMISSIONS, MR EASON POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THE INTRODUCTION OF UNLEADED PETROL, TWO OTHER MEASURES WERE INTRODUCED ON JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR TO REQUIRE NEW VEHICLES WITH PETROL ENGINES FITTED WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND ALL IMPORTED VEHICLES TO COMPLY WITH THE STRICTEST INTERNATIONAL BMISSION STANDARDS.

THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO MONITORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS SUCH AS METHANOL, NATURAL GAS, LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS OR BLECTRICITY.

OF

MEASURES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO FURTHER REDUCE THE CONSUMPTION OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES BY ENCOURAGING MAJOR USERS TO RECYCLE CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) AND TO USE OTHER AVAILABLE SUBSTITUTES.

/MR EASON