XN000022-1994-02-23 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1994

APPEAL TO USE LESS HARDWOOD

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THE

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS URGED TO CUT THE CONSUMPTION OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD BY USING OTHER KINDS OF TIMBER FOR TEMPORARY WORKS AND BY REQUIRING THE SUPPLIER TO CERTIFY THAT THE TIMBER COMES FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE ADDRESSED A SEMINAR ENTITLED 'TROPICAL HARDWOOD

A TIME TO ACT' ORGANISED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

MR BLAKE SAID: "THERE IS GROWING GLOBAL PRESSURE TO REQUIRE SUPPLIERS AT EVERY STAGE TO ENSURE THAT TIMBER COMES FROM SUSTAINABLE MANAGED FORESTS. THIS SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR CREDIBLE TIMBER CERTIFICATION OR LABELLING AT SOURCE.

TO

"TIMBER CERTIFICATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A SYSTEM OF FOREST MONITORING, TIMBER TRACING AND WOODEN PRODUCE LABELLING WHICH AIMS FORM A BRIDGE BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN BE REASSURED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PEDIGREE OF PARTICULAR PRODUCTS AND PRODUCERS CAN MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THEIR MARKET SHARE.

MR BLAKE SAID HONG KONG STILL HAD NOT ACHIEVED THE FULL TRANSITION FROM HARDWOOD USE IN TEMPORARY WORKS TO AN ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE MANY INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION DID NOT RECOGNISE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TIMBERS FROM TROPICAL, TEMPERATE AND BOREAL FORESTS.

'NON-

"WITH INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION COMPANIES IN PLACE AND TIMBER LABELLED AT SOURCE, SPECIFICATIONS CAN BE EXACTING AND CONFORMING' TIMBERS CAN BE REJECTED, HE SAID.

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MR BLAKE SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO EDUCATE SMALLER BUILDERS SUB-CONTRACTORS TO PROMOTE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVES IN RENOVATION REFURBISHMENT OF EXISTING PROPERTY.

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"IT IS BECAUSE SHORT-LEASE RETAIL OUTLETS ARE FREQUENTLY REFITTED USING HARDWOOD TIMBER FRAMING AT INTERVALS OF THREE YEARS OR So.

"IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PUTTING IN PLACE CERTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN OUR FUTURE USE OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND IN THE INTERIM, A REDUCTION

THE USE OF HARDWOOD FOR TEMPORARY WORKS, FOCUSING IN REFURBISHMENT AND RENOVATION AREA, WILL BRING ABOUT A REDUCTION IN THE QUANTITY OF HARDWOOD CONSUMED IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

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