XN000022-1994-10-14 — Page 18

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994"

ONE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW IS THE OBVIOUS DESIRABILITY OF ACHIEVING COMPLEMENTARITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR ECONOMIC HINTERLAND AS FAR AS POSSIBLE. IN THIS CONNEXION, WE HAVE ALREADY MADE CONTACT WITH OUR PLANNING COUNTERPARTS IN GUANGDONG OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO SHARE THINKING ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN, SUCH AS CROSS-BORDER TRANSPORT LINKS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN DEEP BAY AND INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS. WE WILL BE BUILDING ON THESE CONTACTS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

THROUGH

A

IN

A REPORT INDIVIDUAL

WE HAVE ALSO ASSESSED THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY PUBLIC CONSULTATION EXERCISE MOUNTED IN LATE LAST YEAR. SUMMARISING THE MAIN POINTS AND SUGGESTIONS CONTAINED SUBMISSIONS WITH THE RESPONSES OF THE ADMINISTRATION PREPARED.

HAS BEEN

CONCLUDING

AFTER THREE YEARS' WORK, THE REVIEW IN REACHING ITS STAGES. THE COMMENTS RECEIVED THROUGH PUBLIC CONSULTATION AND VIEWS GATHERED THROUGH OUR CONTACTS WITH GUANGDONG WILL ASSIST US IN FORMULATING THE STRATEGY. I EXPECT OUR PROPOSALS ON THE STRATEGY BE READY FOR PRESENTATION IN EARLY 1995.

TO

THIRDLY, THE MAI PO MARSHES. THIS IS AN AREA OF INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. WE ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING DESIGNATING IT A "WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT" UNDER THE RAMSAR CONVENTION. TO TAKE THIS PROPOSITION FORWARD, WE HAVE SET UP AN

INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE VARIOUS ISSUES INVOLVED, INCLUDING OPTIONS AS REGARDS BOUNDARIES AND MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS THEIR RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS. THE WORKING GROUP HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED ITS ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF RESOURCES, WE WILL NEED TO RESOLVE. WHEN READY WE WILL CONSULT THE PUBLIC ON THE MATTER.

B. PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT

FOR PUBLIC ACTION, A

-

OVER THE LAST YEAR OR So, WE HAVE RELEASED INFORMATION, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND INDEED FOR PUBLIC WIDE RANGE OF REPORTS, REVIEWS, BRIEFS, ADVISORY NOTES, AND APIS, ON THE ENVIRONMENT. IN THIS WAY WE HAVE SOUGHT TO CEMENT IN PLACE ONE OF THE KEY FOUNDATION STONES FOR A CLEANER, GREENER HONG KONG

SOLID PUBLIC INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT. REINFORCING OUR EFFORTS ARE PUBLICATIONS FROM THE GREEN GROUPS, FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, FROM THE ENVIRONMENT DIVISION OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL, AND FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITTEE ENVIRONMENT CENTRE, NAME JUST SOME OF THE NON-GOVERNMENT SOURCES.

OUR GOALS IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ARE CLEAR:

WE MUST CORRECT PAST ARUSE;

WE MUST PREVENT FUTURE ABUSE; AND

WE MUST PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION.

TO

F

/ALL OUR