TNAG-1729-FCO40-2442-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 197

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ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Question No

Pollution of bathing beaches

REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN LUNG

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL 1988

1. MR. CHEUNG asked (in Cantonese):

Question In view of the approaching summer season, will

Government inform this Council of the various measures it will take to ensure that Hong Kong's beaches and coastal waters are protected against pollution, especially from sewage discharges of private treatment facilities which are not operated properly?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Sir,

We remain very concerned about the condition of

Hong Kong's bathing beaches. Although there have been some

improvements (Butterfly Beach at Tuen Mun was opened again

last year for the first time since 1981) the general trend

the is not encouraging. Last year, all 12 gazetted beaches in

A the Urban Council area and 10 of the 30 gazetted beaches in

the Regional Council area

Council area were affected by a deterioration

in water quality. This year, we shall enter the bathing

season with two further beaches likely to be declared

unsuitable for swimming.

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The pollution is mainly caused by discharges of

sewage from inadequate or badly operated treatment

facilities and the problem is compounded by rapid population

increases in certain areas. For example, the population of

and

Repulse Bay, Middle Bay and South Bay has increased by 50 per cent over the past decade, At present, there is no mains

sewerage in this area.