XN000022-1992-12-16 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1992

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GOVT COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES

THE GOVERNMENT IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO ACHIEVING THE STANDARDS SPECIFJED IN THE PROGRAMMES FOR ATTAINMENT OF THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES RELEASED IN LATE NOVEMBER 1992.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH KUNG-WAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR EASON SAID THE ADMINISTRATION'S OVERALL POLICY OBJECTIVE FOR CONTROLLING AIR POLLUTION WAS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN ACCEPTABLE AIR QUALITY STANDARDS AIMED AT SAFEGUARDING THE BEALTH AND WELL-BEING THE COMMUNITY.

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TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH A SET OF AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ADOPTED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO CONTROL EMISSION OF AIR POLLUTANTS AT SOURCE WITH SONE SUCCESS.

"FOR EXAMPLE, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (FUEL RESTRICTION) REGULATIONS IN APRIL 1990 REDUCED THE SULPHUR DIOXIDE LEVELS IN HONG KONG BY 40 PER CENT, MR EASON SAID.

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"FOR SOME AREAS NEAR INDUSTRIAL CENTRES THE REDUCTION HAS BEEN AS GREAT AS 90 PER CENT."

FOR OTHER POLLUTANTS, PARTICULARLY NITROGEN DIOXIDE AND TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATES, MR EASON EXPECTED THAT THESE WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEXT REVIEW OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN MID-1993.

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LEGAL AID SERVICES UNDER REVIEW

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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LAW, POLICY AND PRACTICE GOVERNING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL AID SERVICES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCTI TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP 18 ASSEMBLING THE NECESSARY FACTS AND IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND POSSIBILITIES.

HE SAID: "THE GROUP HOPES TO COMPLETE THIS PRELIMINARY STUDY IN MARCH NEXT YEAR.'

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REPLY ING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON SIMON IP SIK-ON, SIR DAVID THE LEGAL PROFESSION WOULD BE INVOLVED AND CONSULTED DURING THE

SAID REVIEW.

ON THE BASIS OF THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE WORKING GROUP, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD START DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND OTHER INTERESTED PUBLIC BODIES.

"THEIR VIEWS WILL

BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REVIEW ARE FINALISED,'

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HE SAID.

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