XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 38

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

"I SHALL BE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FROM ALL WHO ARE SERIOUSLY COMMITTED TO A CLEANER, GREENER HONG KONG IN CARRYING THIS THROUGH.

MR PATTEN SAID THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

"I AM DETERMINED, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET A GOOD,

GREEN EXAMPLE. I WANT CONCERN FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT ΤΟ ENTER EVERY CORNER OF GOVERNMENT.

"ONE ACTION I HAVE ASKED TO BE TAKEN WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT IS FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN PAPERS SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. CURRENTLY, THIS RULE APPLIES ONLY TO MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

"FROM NOW ON, I WANT THIS PRACTICE TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL POLICY PROPOSALS WHERE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A SIGNIFICANT COST OR BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WHERE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE LITTLE OR NO ІМРАСТ, THAT MUST BE CLEARLY STATED.

"I HAVE ASKED MY OFFICIALS TO LOOK AT OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES IN THE COMING MONTHS. I ALSO WANT TO TALK FURTHER TO THOSE OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT WHO TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS, AND WILL, IN DUE COURSE, ANNOUNCE THE FURTHER MEASURES THAT WE PROPOSE TO TAKE, HE SAID.

STRESSING THAT ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION HAD TO BE STOPPED, MR PATTEN SAID:

"WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. CANNOT PASS THE BUCK TO GENERATIONS TO COME. IF YOU WILL EXCUSE THE PUN, THE MUCK STOPS HERE.'

WE

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"WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE ACCUSATION THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IS THE ONE STRIKING FAILURE BY HONG KONG'S NORMAL STANDARDS OF SUCCESS.

HE SAID THE LEVEL OF POLLUTION IN HONG KONG WAS PARTICULARLY SURPRISING BECAUSE, UNLIKE MANY OTHER CITIES, THIS COMMUNITY DID NOT VANDALISE ITS PUBLIC HOUSING, ITS MTR, OR ITS OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES. WE VALUED THESE PUBLIC ASSETS.

"WHY, THEREFORE, DO WE GO ON VANDALISING OUR ENVIRONMENT?"

HE SAID THERE WAS LITTLE POINT IN HAVING MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE HOMES IF WE ALLOWED THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVED ΤΟ CONTINUE ON A DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF NEGLECT AND DEGRADATION.

"WE

CANNOT GO ON POISONING THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE FOOD EAT. WE CANNOT GO ON DUMPING FILTH INTO THE WATER WHICH WE DRINK IN WHICH WE SWIM."

WE

AND

CITING JUST TWO OF THE SOBERING STATISTICS, MR PATTEN SAID:

"WE

MAY HAVE THE TALLEST AND FINEST BUILDINGS IN ASIA, RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, WE HAVE A HARBOUR INTO WHICH DISCHARGE 1.5 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF UNTREATED SEWAGE INDUSTRIAL WASTE EVERY DAY;

BUT

WE

AND

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