XN000022-1993-03-09 — Page 11

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TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1993

THEY WERE INFORMED THAT ENPO, WHICH WAS SET UP IN AUGUST LAST YEAR AND MANAGED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD), IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN CONSULTANTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (ASIA) LTD AND BINNIE CONSULTANTS.

ENPO CONDUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND AUDITING OF THE WEST KOWLOON PROJECT AREA, IDENTIFIES POLLUTION PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECLAMATION AND PROVIDES ADVICE ON WAYS то REMEDY THESE PROBLEMS.

IT ALSO INVESTIGATES COMPLAINTS RECEIVED THROUGH THE EPD POLLUTION HOTLINE AND REPORTS MONTHLY TO

BPD, NAPCO AND THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (UADO),

MEMBERS THEN TRAVELLED TO WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION ON A MARINE LAUNCH. THEY PASSED THROUGH THE OLD AND NEW YAU MA ΤΕΙ TYPHOON SHELTERS AND OBERSVED THE WATER QUALITY MONITORING WORK BEING CONDUCTED AT ONE OF THE MANY WATER MONITORING STATIONS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT AREA.

THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE WATER QUALITY NEAR STONECUTTERS ISLAND HAD IMPROVED SINCE THE COMMISSIONING OF A NEW SEWERAGE SCHEME WHICH REDUCED POLLUTION INPUTS FROM THE WEST KOWLOON HINTERLAND BY PER CENT.

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SEVERAL REMEDIAL PROPOSALS THAT WILL FURTHER IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY THERE ARE BEING CONSIDERED.

THE LAUNCH ALSO TOOK MEMBERS TO THE NORTHERN AREA OF THE RECLAMATION NEAR MEI FOO SUN CHUEN WHERE MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE AIR AND NOISE MONITORING WORK.

THEY WERE INFORMED THAT AIR QUALITY MONITORING IN THIS AREA HAD NOT RECORDED A DUST PROBLEM EXCEEDING REGULATORY LIMITS.

THE TEMPORARY SAND PILE IN FRONT OF LAI CHI KOK REDUCED TO 3.5 METRES IN HEIGHT AND THAT THIS STOCKPILE PROGRESSIVELY REMOVED BY THE END OF MAY.

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AFTER THE VISIT, PROFESSOR WANG SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT NEGLECTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF ENGINEERING PROJECTS BEING CONDUCTED NEAR ΤΟ THE DENSELY POPULATED AREA IN WEST KOWLOON.

"ALTHOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES SOMETIMES CANNOT BE AVOIDED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CLOSE MONITORING AND ADEQUATE MITIGATING AND REMEDIAL MEASURES BE TAKEN EXPEDITIOUSLY, PROFESSOR WANG SAID.

EPCOM MEMBERS ALSO ASKED THAT REPORT OF THE WORK OF ENPO BR SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

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