TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 17

Question No.5

REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WELFARE TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. YEUNG PO-KWAN, CPM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY 1985

Question:

Will the Government make a statement on water quality in Hong Kong waters with particular regard to areas frequented by sea bathers?

Sir,

It is a sure sign that summer has arrived

when a question on water quality at our beaches is asked

in this Council. This is quite right and proper, when we

consider that each summer more than 20 million visits are

made to our beaches.

2.

In general the quality of Hong Kong's marine

waters is satisfactory, but this is not to deny that there

are problem areas. Deep Bay, despite its name, is shallow

and moderately polluted. The limited tidal flushing in the

Bay cannot cope fully with the heavy pollutant loads from the

New Territories and from Shenzhen. On the eastern side of

the New Territories, Tolo Harbour, Port Shelter, Hebe Haven

and Junk Bay especially Tolo Harbour are polluted inshore

and have deteriorated seriously from their natural condition.

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3.

Rather surprisingly, so far as water quality is

concerned, most of Victoria Harbour is still considered, by

and large, to be in a satisfactory condition despite the

heavy load it has to bear. In general the Harbour is well

flushed by tides and currents, but its condition is, of course,

only satisfactory if it is accepted that in no way can it be

/classified

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