XN000022-1992-10-28 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1992

MARINE PARK LAW IN THE PIPELINE

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THE STATUTORY DESIGNATION, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF MARINE PARKS AND MARINE RESERVES, AND THE CONTROL OF ACTIVITIES IN THESE AREAS, WILL BE PROVIDED FOR IN NEW LEGISLATION WHICH SHOULD BE READY IN ABOUT A YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REFERRING TO. HOI HA WAN IN SAI KUNG, HE SAID IT HAD BEEN DESIGNATED AS A SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST SINCE 1989.

"TO FURTHER PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE AREA, THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD HAS RECOMMENDED IT SHOULD BE DESIGNATED AS A MARINE PARK," HE ADDED.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON GILBERT LEUNG KAM- HO, MR EASON SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ILLEGAL DUMPING THERE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE SUCH CASE NEAR LAI CHI CHONG LAST YEAR. THE OFFENDER WAS BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT COURT AND FINED $50,000 PLUS A COURT CHARGE.

MR EASON SAID THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) UPDATED THE MARINE DUMPING ACTION PLAN REGULARLY TO ENSURE THERE WAS A CONCERTED EFFORT BY ALL THE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS AGAINST ILLEGAL DUMPING ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG WATERS.

"UNDER THE ACTION PLAN ANY PARTY, WHETHER IT IS A DUMPING LICENSEE, A CONTRACTOR, OR A DUMPING CONTRACTOR, FOUND ENGAGING IN ILLEGAL MARINE DUMPING WILL BE PROSECUTED.

"THE HEAVY FINES WHICH THE DISTRICT COURT CAN IMPOSE ON REPEATED OFFENDERS, AS COMPARED WITH THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $5,000 THAT CAN BE IMPOSED BY THE MAGISTRATES COURT, IS HAVING A GREATER DETERRENT EFFECT ON ILLEGAL DUMPING.

HE SAID.

"EPD WILL CONTINUE TO BRING SUCH CASES TO THE DISTRICT COURT,

WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY NEXT YEAR, ALL DUMPING BARGES MUST EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SELF-MONITORING DEVICES, MR BASON SAID.

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"THESE DEVICES PROVIDE AN ACCURATE RECORD OF THE POSITIONS SUCH BARGES, AS WELL AS ANY LOADING AND DUMPING OPERATION, USING SATELLITE SIGNALS 24 HOURS A DAY.

"THIS WILL ENABLE EPD TO KEEP A CLOSE SURVEILLANCE ON ALL MARINE DUMPING ACTIVITIES IN A MORE COST-EFFECTIVE AND LESS LABOUR INTENSIVE WAY," HE SAID.

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