Throughout the White Paper, and in particular in the introductory Chapter 1 (paragraphs 1.5 to 1.7) we acknowledge that the main reason why our environment is now in an unsatisfactory state is that in the past the Government and the community made choices which gave too little emphasis to the needs of the environment. We now have to recover lost ground. Government will therefore give greater emphasis to the environment and seek the allocation of resources for our major infrastructural projects. Although past mistakes will be expensive to correct, we must take immediate steps to prevent further deterioration of the environment and then gradually improve it over the ten-year period of the plan. Rapid improvements cannot be expected right away.
6
must
>
?
We further acknowledge (paragraph 1.7) that particularly where the int roduction of new legislation is concerned, the increased emphasis on improving the environment not ignore the needs of the economy. On the other hand the environment is in a
serious condition, and it is crucial that Government and the private sector make a determined effort to work out practical and effective solutions. The cost of some measures will fall on industry. For this reason extensive consultation must be taken with all those likely to be affected
new environment al protection measures.
The Industry Development Board, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association,
Association, amongst others,
amongst others, will thus have important role to play.
by
Format of Chapters 2 to 9
7
Each chapter
first
describes
the
an
present
unsatisfactory state of affairs, states overall objectives, explains current programmes and their adequacy, and proposes initiatives in the Iway
forward' sections. Chapter 9 summarises the main initiatives with target dates for action which are subject to the availability of resources, will be reappraised when the White Paper is reviewed every two years.
Major Initiatives for Waste Management (Chapter 2)
8
and which
In order to cope with a probable 30,000 tonnes daily waste by 2001, a new waste disposal strategy required. The main features of this strategy are
(a)
the construction of three very large landfill sites in the New Territories for the disposal of wastes (paragraph 2.13), supplied from
of
is
O'H
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