XN000022-1993-06-07 — Page 2

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 1993

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HK EXPECTED TO TAKE A LEAD ON ENVIRONMENT

THE

GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT HONG KONG CAN GIVE A LEAD BEYOND ON ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

TODAY (MONDAY) REGIONALLY AND

"I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE MUST MAKE PROTECTING OUR PRECIOUS PLANET A TOP PRIORITY," HE SAID.

ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND ANNUAL BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT WEEK, MR PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ALL POLLUTION CONTROLS UNDER A NETWORK OF LEGISLATION.

"WE ALSO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT INDUSTRY NEEDS TO MEET THESE STANDARDS," HE SAID.

ON INFRASTRUCTURE, A CHEMICAL WASTE TREATMENT CENTRE HAS RECENTLY BEEN OPENED ON TSING YI. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC DUMPS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND A CENTRALISED INCINERATOR TO HELP INDUSTRY TO GET RID OF SPECIAL SOLIDS.

AS REGARDS INFORMATION, THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES AN UPDATED GUIDE ON ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION EACH YEAR FOR

MANUFACTURERS.

ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL HAS HELPED THE INDUSTRY TO DEAL WITH ITS PROBLEMS.

NOTING THAT CLEANER TECHNOLOGY PAYS OFF, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "BEING A FRIEND TO THE ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT MEAN BEING A STRANGER ΤΟ PROFIT.

H

RAW

ON

IT CAN NOT ONLY LEAD TO GREATER PRODUCTIVITY BUT TO SAVINGS MATERIALS AND WASTE DISPOSAL AS WELL AS MORE ORDERS FROM ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FOREIGN FIRMS, MR PATTEN SAID.

THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR MORE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS BETWEEN DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS.

THE GOVERNOR PRAISED THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SPONSORING VARIOUS INITIATIVES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

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