HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
19 July 1989
香港立法局——————————一九八九年七月十九日
127
However, there is a large quantity of wastes, for example, industrial waste, being collected by private collectors using smaller vehicles. If the private collectors cannot use the RTS then the objective of using containerized road vehicles to transport wastes to landfills cannot be achieved. I suggest the RTS should be open to every one.
Paragraph 2.33 states that it is the intention "to extend the power to issue licences under the (Waste Disposal Ordinance) to cover all major landfills, public dumps, incinerators, transfer stations, chemical waste treatment plants and waste recycling/recovery plants".
However, there is no control on privately operated dumping sites, such as those on agricultural land and therefore these dumping sites will continue to exist.
Sir, the administration of pollution control is itself a complex matter. For years it was a matter given over to a number of unrelated and unco-ordinated departments. No one department was wholly responsible for environmental protection and this fragmented approach was not successful.
Good co- ordination, good administration and good planning are essential to good pollution control. The White Paper sets out the new administrative framework "to carry forward existing environmental programmes and new initiatives". Why is this aspect to be welcomed? I nevertheless believe that three administrative bodies, the Planning, Environment and Land Branch, the Drainage Services Department and the Planning Department, as set out in paragraph 1.8, may tend to overlap or even compete with each other in this aspect.
Sir, I spoke earlier of self-discipline as more effective than external discipline. If one were to glance at the harbour any morning it is clear that self- discipline is not, as yet, well understood.
For people are still taking the idea of a throw-away society too literally. We need all the changes set out in the White Paper. But above all, we need a change of heart.
Sir, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. MARTIN LEE: Sir, pollution in the form of waste comes from everybody in Hong Kong whether young or old. Every time we eat or wash our hands or go to the toilet or write a speech, particularly long speeches, we generate waste
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