XN000022-1993-10-12 — Page 4

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1993

LAND,

TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM OF PLANNING AND ENGINEERING STAFF WILL SOON BE SET UP. IT WILL BE HEADED BY A DIRECTORATE OFFICER OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.

AREAS IN-SITU

THE TASK FORCE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING WHERE TOUGHER ENFORCEMENT ACTION IS REQUIRED, UNDERTAKING IMPROVEMENT WORKS, AND FINDING NEW SITES FOR RELOCATING SOME OF THE EXISTING OPEN STORAGE AREAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE TOWN PLANNING (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE IN 1991.

THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE WILL BE MONITORED BY A COMMITTEE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM INTERESTED PARTIES.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AT PRESENT ABOUT 550 HECTARES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND WERE CONVERTED INTO OPEN STORAGE AREAS BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE IN 1991.

ANOTHER 150 HECTARES OF LAND WERE CONVERTED AFTER THE 1991 ENACTMENT DATE. THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS "UNAUTHORISED DEVELOPMENT" WHERE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE REQUIRED.

INITIALLY, THE TASK FORCE WILL DEAL WITH NORTHWEST NT WHERE THE PROLIFERATION OF UNAUTHORISED MORE SERIOUS.

THE PROBLEM IN DEVELOPMENT IS

ON THE GREEN MANAGERS SCHEME, MR EASON SAID: "THE SCHEME IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT GREEN HOUSEKEEPING EXERCISE TO SOLICIT SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND BUSINESS IN OUR CAMPAIGNS ΤΟ REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND TO ENCOURAGE WASTE RECYCLING.

"BY URGING THESE ORGANISATIONS TO APPOINT THEIR OWN GREEN MANAGERS, WE HOPE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK BEING UNDERTAKEN WITHIN AN ORGANISATION WILL BE BETTER CO-ORDINATED AND PROPERLY SUSTAINED.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SET A GOOD EXAMPLE BY APPOINTING GREEN

MANAGERS IN ALL PARTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

"WE WILL ALSO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF BUSINESS HOW THEY WILL BENEFIT FROM THE SCHEME AS GOOD GREEN HOUSEKEEPING WILL CUT COST AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY," MR EASON SAID.

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GOVT PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO ITS BEST то PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF BUILDINGS ON THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY BASON, SAID TODAY

(TUESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SYMPOSIUM ON ENVIRONMENT- FRIENDLY BUILDINGS, MR EASON SAID SUCH IMPACT COULD BE MINIMISED THROUGH PROMOTION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CONSTRUCTION WASTE MANAGEMENT AND CHOICE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.

/ON ENERGY