TNAG-1610-FCO40-22132-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 84

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It is an indication of the greater effort we are now devoting to this task that the staffing of the Environmental Protection Department (which co-ordinates all the Government's programmes for environmental protection) has been increased more than four times in protection) has been increased the past two years. Expenditure by the department has grown similarly, from just over $20 million in 1985/86 to almost $83 million this year. During this time it has concentrated particularly on dealing with water and air pollution and with the disposal of solid waste.

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Particular attention is now being given to controlling the discharge of untreated, sometimes toxic, wastes from factories and to checking the uncontrolled disposal of livestock waste. For many years livestock waste has been a cause of serious water pollution. Council is now considering a Bill to give effect to a

jc ten-year livestock waste control programme which includes provisions to prohibit the keeping of livestock in the urban area and the new towns. Even though we cannot

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expect instant results, the measures in the Bill will have a significant effect on many of our water pollution problems.

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