XN000022-1992-09-20 — Page 2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1992

EFFLUENT DISCHARGERS URGED TO GET LICENCE

FOR

FOR

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT THE DEADLINE APPLYING FOR LICENCES UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE EFFLUENT DISCHARGES IN THE NORTH WESTERN WATER CONTROL ZONE IS SEPTEMBER 30.

THE MAJOR AREAS WITHIN THE NORTH WESTERN WATER CONTROL ZONE INCLUDE TUEN MUN, CASTLE PEAK, LAM TEI, LUNG KWU SHEUNG TAN, PILLAR POINT, SO KWUN WAT, SIU LAM, TAI LAM CHUNG, YAM O, CHEK LAP KOK, TUNG CHUNG AND TAI 0.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT SAID OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL, RESIDENTIAL AND ALL OTHER TYPES OF PREMISES WITHIN THE ZONE WITH EFFLUENT DISCHARGES SHOULD APPLY FOR A LICENCE.

THIS INCLUDES DISCHARGES FROM SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND SEPTIC TANKS.

HOWEVER, DISCHARGES OF DOMESTIC SEWAGE INTO PUBLIC FOUL SEWERS AND UNPOLLUTED WATER ARE NOT UNDER CONTROL.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS AN OFFENCE то DISCHARGE ANY POLLUTING MATTER INTO THE WATERS OF HONG KONG IN A WATER CONTROL ZONE UNLESS THE DISCHARGE IS MADE UNDER, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH, A LICENCE GRANTED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

AFTER OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, ANY EFFLUENT DISCHARGE MADE WITHOUT A LICENCE, OR IN BREACH OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE LICENCE, IS ILLEGAL AND THE DISCHARGER IS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.

WHILE FAILURE TO OBTAIN A LICENCE IS NOT AN OFFENCE, IT IS STRONGLY ADVISABLE FOR THE DISCHARGER, OR THE OWNER OR OCCUPIER OF THE PREMISES FROM WHICH THE DISCHARGE IS MADE, TO OBTAIN A LICENCE AVOID THE RISK OF PROSECUTION.

TO

APPLICATION FORMS FOR LICENCES ARE AVAILABLE AT DEPARTMENT'S OFFICES AND THE TUEN MUN AND ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICES.

ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT ON TEL 417 4464.

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