XN000022-1993-09-22 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1993

TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE PROTOCOL, HONG KONG ENACTED THE OZONE LAYER PROTECTION ORDINANCE IN JUNE 1989, SHE SAID.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, THE MANUFACTURE OF LISTED OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS LOCALLY IS PROHIBITED, AND RETAINED IMPORTS OF SUCH CHEMICALS ARE SUBJECT TO QUOTA CONTROL.

"BY JANUARY 1, 1996

—

TWO-AND-A-HALF LESS THAN

YEARS AWAY THE IMPORT OF OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS WILL BE COMPLETELY BANNED, MISS YUE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, WHICH WAS THE PRINCIPAL USER OF THE OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICAL, CFC-113, WAS HONG KONG'S SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER.

THE INDUSTRY ACCOUNTED FOR 26 PER CENT OF TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND EMPLOYED 11 PER CENT OF THE MANUFACTURING WORKFORCE, SHE SAID.

WAS THUS

THE SEARCH FOR NON-OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS AND SUBSTITUTION TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WERE BOTH EFFICIENT AND COST COMPETITIVE, OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR HONG KONG, SHE ADDED.

DEPARTMENT,

"IT IS WITH THIS PURPOSE IN MIND THAT THE INDUSTRY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION HAVE JOINED FORCES TO ORGANISE TODAY'S SYMPOSIUM, SHE

SAID.

*+

THE SYMPOSIUM AIMS TO DISSEMINATE TO MANUFACTURERS THE LATEST INFORMATION ON SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND TO ENABLE MANUFACTURERS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

"WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THIS SYMPOSIUM WILL HELP MANUFACTURERS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR APPROPRIATE NON-OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND THEREBY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROTECTION AND THE GENERAL WELL-BEING OF OUR ENVIRONMENT," MISS YUE SAID.

0

NEW HOME OPENS FOR STREET SLEEPERS

* * * * *

STREET SLEEPERS AND THE HOMELESS CAN TAKE SHELTER IN NEW PREMISES IN CHEUNG SHA WAN WITH THE OPENING OF THE SALVATION ARMY YEE ON HOSTEL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AND THEY CAN GET SUPPORT AND ADVICE FROM THE HOSTEL STAFF TOO.

AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HOSTEL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID: "I BELIEVE THE KINDNESS AND CONCERN SHOWN BY THE STAFF HERE TO STREET SLEEPERS WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO BECOME MORE SELF- RELIANT AND MORE STABLE.

HE SAID THE PROBLEM OF STREET SLEEPERS WAS COMPLEX AND A COMBINED EFFORT BY THE GOVERNMENT, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WAS NEEDED TO HELP THEM.

/HE CALLED