XN000022-1995-06-21 — Page 28

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Mr President, the sentiment behind the motion and the amendment is one which the Administration supports. We agree that stringent measures should be taken to prevent the inappropriate sale of dangerous drugs. As I have explained in my speech earlier, we are already devoting a great deal of effort to do so. But enforcement alone is not enough. We encourage the public, particularly our young people, to stay away from drugs, through our preventive education and publicity programmes. We provide treatment and rehabilitation programmes to wean drug addicts away from this pernicious habit, and to reintegrate into society. We shall do more of these things. But above all, we need the support and the active participation of the community to "beat drugs" together.

Thank you, Mr President.

End/Wednesday, June 21, 1995

Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Waste) Regulation

Following is the speech by Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the motion debate on the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday);

Mr President,

First of all I should say that I am most grateful to the Hon. Vincent Cheng, Chairman of the Case Conference on the Waste Disposal (Charges for Disposal of Waste) Regulation, and Members of the Case Conference for their careful scrutiny and general support of the Regulation.

Our objective in introducing this Regulation is to continue the implementation of the polluter pays principle and to provide an economic incentive to waste producers to reduce waste generation by sorting and reuse, thereby reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. At this point I should perhaps remind Members that waste disposal in Hong Kong is heavily subsidised-taxpayers paid $600 million in 1994 for the disposal of waste generated by commerce and industry. Nevertheless, the initial charge levels, which seek to recover only 50% of the landfill costs, are moderate and should be affordable to business. Households will not be affected since domestic waste, whether collected by the Municipal Councils or private collectors, is exempted from the scheme.