TNAG-1732-FCO40-2445-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 28

Oral answers to questions

Environmental pollution

pollution in mai to

Wildlife Recerca mo

REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE

TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN LUNG

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 1988

1. Mr. CHEUNG asked (in Cantonese) :

Question: Will Government inform this Council whether the

Mai Po Marshes have been affected by environmental pollution? If so, what measures will the

authorities concerned take to protect the natural' ecological environment of that area?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE :

Siz,

Deep Bay, like Tolo Harbour, is an enclosed body

of water with limited circulation and is affected by similar

pollution problems. A major study was commissioned in

January this year to review the environment in Deep Bay and

to assess the cumulative effects of development projects in

the area. The study has shown that pollution levels in the inner part of Deep Bay are very high and that the major

source of this pollution is organic waste from livestock

farming.

2.

Despite the general deterioration of water quality

in Deep Bay, the study does not indicate that the Mai Po

Le Wildlife Reserve has been significantly affected by

pollution. The mangroves, which form the principal plant community, appear to be unaffected and there has been no

reduction in the species and number of birds reported in the

area.

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