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manage the problem of refuse treatment of its own. Then there may be a new hope in solving our refuse collection problem and our future will not be grey all the time. Regarding the treatment of sewage in the Building Ordinance, at present the pollution problem in beaches managed by the Council is becoming an increasingly serious one. We cannot just stand and do nothing in this respect. We must try to find some ways of dealing with the problem at roots as well as the symptom.

Finally, on environmental protection, I would like to mention something concerning the offensive trade. At present two trades which are regarded as offensive by the Council are the lard boiling factories and the sharks fins processing factories. Unfortunately, these two types of factories have had a long history in the Central and Western District. They were long-standing problems. In the past, there was legislation to the effect that no new licences would be issued to these two types of factories. However, we had not imposed a deadline for these factory operators to close down their businesses and therefore it becomes an endless pollution problem. In the coming year, we should review our standards relating to offensive trade. Two special conditions must be imposed at the minimum level. Firstly, we should impose a deadline for these trades so that the operators would move away their factories from the urban area and secondly, in the interim, there should be limitation on their working hours. They should not be allowed to operate twenty-four hours a day. Besides, we should also review many other offensive trades which may cause a nuisance such as the pig roasting factories. Limitation of their operating hours may be a new concept to be applied to food factories. I hope that the Food Hygiene Select Committee could review this particular point.

Finally, I would like to mention about recreational facilities. In an old area, such as the Central and Western District, we cannot identify more open space for recreation without reclamation. In the past, we did not put enough effort into fighting for open spaces. Usually, we rely on the Department to fight on our behalf or indirectly ask members of the Council who are also members of the Town Planning Board to fight the battle for us. As a financially autonomous organization and as a major open spaces developer in Hong Kong, we should take the initiative and apply to the Hong Kong Government for more lands for recreational purposes. I am very happy to know that we have tried to improve on our old parks in the urban areas. These old parks and playgrounds have over twenty years of history, which means the approach of a new generation. We should also have parks and playgrounds of new designs to let the new generation enjoy suitable recreational facilities.

Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.

(Mr. Stephen M. L. LAU arrived at 3:07 p.m.)

MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the survival of human beings depends on a healthy environment.

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The propagation of human beings depends on the on-going and reasonable utilization of natural resources.

In modern times, the interwoven influence of such factors as population increase, technological advancement, mass consumption, and mass production results in environmental pollution and the state of inequilibrium in nature. Examples of environmental pollution are water pollution, air pollution, soil pollution, noise pollution, and other forms of pollution caused by vibration, obnoxious smell, refuse, and toxic substances, which have a serious effect on our living environment and national health. Examples of the state of inequilibrium in nature are loss of natural resources and ecological equilibrium and imbalance of natural scenery caused by estate developments which are detrimental to the safety and comfort of the living environment of the present and future generations. In order to ensure national health and propagation of mankind, advanced countries one after another therefore derive the concept of 'Environment Right' from such legal concepts as the right to survive and property right under protection in the constitution, and establish a legal system for environmental protection which is the basis of the administration of the law-abiding democratic states.

Hong Kong so far has not had an all-revealing, overall, and comprehensive set of basic law serving as the policy guide for economic development and environmental protection. This is really putting the cart before the horse.

The Time magazine chose the Earth as the planet of the year 1988, an earth that needs the care and concern of all of us, and the colour of which is changing day by day.

1989 is a year that shows internationally full concern for the environment. A global slogan is 'Global warming and Global warming'. As Hong Kong is an international city, it has every reason to pitch in. Following the appeal of the Governor, Sir David Wilson, a major turnover among the members of the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee, the efforts of non-government environmental protection organizations over the years, and the emerging new momentum of the green campaign launched by some professionals, Hong Kong people are now more aware of the environment and 1989 has become a year that marks the beginning of 'Green Politics'. I hope that the forthcoming 'White Paper on Environmental Pollution' can really face up to the existing shortcomings in environmental protection, conduct a comprehensive review of the inadequacies in existing legislation, put forward an overall and basic legal concept in environment, emphasize the guiding principle that both preventive and remedial measures on pollution and conservation are equally important, reveal a broad and long-term strategy on environment, advocate formal and public education on environment, and legislate for the completion of comprehensive environmental studies in planning all major development projects, particularly for those in which land is involved.