XN000022-1994-04-04+05 — Page 2

MONDAY, APRIL 4, 1994

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EPD TO DEVELOP MARINE MAP SYSTEM

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH FUNDING SUPPORT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR DEVELOPING HONG KONG'S FIRST GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) TO BE USED FOR PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS GIS PROJECT WAS ONE OF THE PROJECTS NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR FUNDING SUPPORT BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB IN 1993/94.

APPROVAL WAS GRANTED BY THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB CHARITIES TRUST IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND A TOTAL OF $1.8 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO EPD TO DEVELOP THE MARINE MAP SYSTEM.

EPD'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DR MIKE CHIU, SAID: "THE MAJOR OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW SPEEDY RETRIEVAL OF ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION ON THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT RANGING FROM BATHING BEACH SUBZONES TO LOCATIONS OF DRAINAGE OUTFALLS.

"IT WILL INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, INFORMATION ON SECONDARY RECREATIONAL WATERS, TYPHOON SHELTERS, MARINAS, DUMPING AREAS, MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST."

ALL

THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE FIELD INVESTIGATION TO IDENTIFY THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS, GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE MAPS, DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE, AND CONVERSION OF SUCH INFORMATION INTO A COMPUTER DATABASE SYSTEM.

SPEEDY

DR CHIU SAID: "THE SYSTEM WILL ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE READY ACCESS TO THE REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR A

ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS DUE TO ANY PROPOSED OR EXISTING ACTIVITIES,

ON

THE TAKING

MAKING "THIS WILL IN TURN FACILITATE QUICKER DECISION

PARTIES CONCERNED ON PART OF EPD TO FORMULATE ADVICE TO THE APPROPRIATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROECTION MEASURES то ALLEVIATE THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS.

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WOULD

OF

CITING OIL SPILLS AS AN EXAMPLE, DR CHIU SAID THE SYSTEM

PRIORITIES HELP EPD IN DESIGNATING PROTECTION

AND DECIDING WHETHER THE USE OF CHEMICAL DISPERSANTS SHOULD BE USED FOR THE PROTECTION THE TERRITORY'S SENSITIVE SHORELINES.

BE DESIGNED TO INTERFACE

WILL

LAND

"THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE COMMISSIONED LATER THIS YEAR,

WITH ANY TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGICAL OR INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH A VIEW TO ESTABLISHING A COMPLETE ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE OF THE TERRITORY," HE SAID.

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