XN000022-1996-01-04 — Page 7

Of those receiving long service certificates, 93 have been in government service for 30 years and another 93 for 20 years.

The Director of Education, Mr W K Lam, will officiate at the presentation. ceremony which will be held at Queen's College, 120 Causeway Bay Road, at 11 am on Saturday (January 6).

End

Open burning to be put under control

The Air Pollution Control (Open Burning) Regulation to be gazetted tomorrow (Friday) will put opening burning activities under control with effect from February 26 this year.

Under the new regulation, open burning of construction wastes, rubber tyres and metal salvage will be prohibited.

"Regulatory controls are necessary as open burning emits smoke, dust and in some cases, toxic gases. It adds to the already high particulates levels in the atmosphere and often causes a nuisance to people living nearby," Principal Environmental Protection Officer of the Environmental Protection Department, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said.

"Instead of burning in open air, the wastes should be recycled or disposed of at proper landfills," he said.

Apart from a few exceptions listed in the regulation, all other forms of open burning will be put under control.

Open burning activities that will be exempted include the burning of incense and barbecues, which form part of the custom of the community or have significant amenity value. Essential open burning activities such as burning required for fire- fighting training will also be allowed under the regulation.

"All other open burnings will be an offence unless a permit is obtained from the Environmental Protection Department," Mr Tse said.