Page 143 of 166
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the past few years, the Council's efforts centred on the provision of first-class cultural facilities and activities. Up to the present, favourable comments from the public have been received. However, it is believed that we should shift to the more commonplace in the future so as to meet the needs of the general public.
Conclusion
I trust that both citizens and fellow Councillors understand that District Boards and the Urban Council aim at serving the people in their best interest. I hope that District Board members in the end realize that the Urban Council is equally concerned about district problems which it cannot resolve because they are outside the Council's jurisdiction and resources are limited. On the other hand, I also hope that Urban Councillors realize that the points put forward by District Boards concern the genuine need for improvement within the district. If the Urban Council cannot resolve them as soon as possible, District Boards will surely be dissatisfied. Hence, the Urban Council and District Boards should have good co-operation and co-ordination in order to perform their respective roles well and to provide the most effective services to the public.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, 1989 is the year in which I first joined the Urban Council meetings. It is also an unforgettable year. The turbulent political scene makes us feel that all of a sudden we are living in a great era in history. However, have we noticed that a new political force is growing in the midst of commotion, cries and yells? This force does not arise from any political party, organization, institution or the public. It can be said that it comes as a matter of course or from the inner soul of men, a sort of natural self-awakening.
Some described 1989 as 'the year of green (power)'. Some said that it was the year in which the force of 'green politics' gained ground. Up to the present, although we still cannot see that environmental protection really has any connection with politics, the idea of the force of 'green politics' illustrates that environmental protection work has to be initiated by the Government in order to give full play to this force.
The pioneer of "the year of green (power)' should be the Governor, Sir David WILSON. In his address at the opening of the 1988–89 Session of the Legislative Council on 12 October 1988, he pointed out that Hong Kong had been facing serious environmental pollution problems and confirmed that our top priority was to halt the continuous deterioration of our environment. Immediately afterwards, on 25 October 1988, the Executive Council advised that a White Paper on tackling pollution problems should be prepared. The White Paper 'Pollution in Hong Kong-A Time to act' published in June 1989 set out a series of new measures costing up to $20 billion and a ten-year capital works programme. The actual work includes the setting up of the Planning Environment and Lands Branch, the Drainage Services Department and the Planning Department; the declaration of Port Shelter and Junk Bay as Water Control Zones; the declaration of Air Control Zones and the enforcement of Noise Control Ordinance in respect of noises from domestic, commercial and industrial premises and construction sites, including the provisions on the control of piling works at day time. All these are the Government's achievements on environmental protection in 1989, indicative of its determination in this area of work.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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I remember that in the Urban Council Annual Debate held last year, it was pointed out by a Councillor that the policy adopted by the Government towards environmental protection was of a stopgap nature which only provided a temporary but not radical solution to the problem. As a result, the problem remains there permanently. Indeed, the seriousness of the problem of environmental pollution is directly proportional to the rate of economic growth and the increase in population of our society. Of course, we cannot stop our society from prospering and progressing just for the sake of solving the problem of environmental pollution. What the Government can do is to adopt a more positive attitude towards various problems of pollution and try to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the natural world rather than discharge all the pollutants 'safely' into the natural world. Therefore, landfills for disposal of wastes, submarine sewage outfalls and sludge dumping grounds are not long-term solutions to the problems generated by waste, sewage and sludge, as it is impossible to rely solely on the 'digestivity' of the ecological system to cope with the increasing amount of sewage and waste generated as a result of the economic growth and progress of our society. This is only a way to alleviate the problem of pollution and cannot be regarded as the work of environmental protection. Hence, the Government should allocate more funds to studies on recycling of waste and sewage treatment systems. This would be more meaningful than engaging consultancy firms to see where to provide new landfills or sludge dumping grounds to replace existing ones.
Since June this year, most citizens have been very concerned about the development of the political relationships between China, Britain and Hong Kong. However, people seem to have overlooked the close geographical relationship between China and Hong Kong. With the introduction of open economy and development of commerce and industry in Shenzhen, the problem of environmental pollution has emerged. The direct discharge of the pollutants of Sham Chun River into Hau Hoi Wan has seriously affected the natural environment of the area and the largest operation of oyster culture in Hong Kong. Moreover, the hygienic condition of drinking water directly supplied from the Dongjiang to Hong Kong has become a matter of deep concern for all the people of Hong Kong. Therefore, the authorities concerned should carry out work in this regard as soon as possible. I believe that most Hong Kong people share my hope that the political issue will cause no 'pollution' to the proposals put forward for solving the environmental problem.
1989 is also memorable in that a series of big capital projects was put forward by Sir David WILSON, the Governor of Hong Kong, in his Annual Address to
Page 143 of 166
Page 143 of 166
272
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the past few years, the Council's efforts centred on the provision of first-class cultural facilities and activities. Up to the present, favourable comments from the public have been received. However, it is believed that we should shift to the more commonplace in the future so as to meet the needs of the general public.
Conclusion
I trust that both citizens and fellow Councillors understand that District Boards and the Urban Council aim at serving the people in their best interest. I hope that District Board members in the end realize that the Urban Council is equally concerned about district problems which it cannot resolve because they are outside the Council's jurisdiction and resources are limited. On the other hand, I also hope that Urban Councillors realize that the points put forward by District Boards concern the genuine need for improvement within the district. If the Urban Council cannot resolve them as soon as possible, District Boards will surely be dissatisfied. Hence, the Urban Council and District Boards should have good co-operation and co-ordination in order to perform their respective roles well and to provide the most effective services to the public.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, 1989 is the year in which I first joined the Urban Council meetings. It is also an unforgettable year. The turbulent political scene makes us feel that all of a sudden we are living in a great era in history. However, have we noticed that a new political force is growing in the midst of commotion, cries and yells? This force does not arise from any political party, organization, institution or the public. It can be said that it comes as a matter of course or from the inner soul of men, a sort of natural self-awakening.
Some described 1989 as 'the year of green (power)'. Some said that it was the year in which the force of 'green politics' gained ground. Up to the present, although we still cannot see that environmental protection really has any connection with politics, the idea of the force of 'green politics' illustrates that environmental protection work has to be initiated by the Government in order to give full play to this force.
The pioneer of "the year of green (power)' should be the Governor, Sir David WILSON. In his address at the opening of the 1988–89 Session of the Legislative Council on 12 October 1988, he pointed out that Hong Kong had been facing serious environmental pollution problems and confirmed that our top priority was to halt the continuous deterioration of our environment. Immediately afterwards, on 25 October 1988, the Executive Council advised that a White Paper on tackling pollution problems should be prepared. The White Paper 'Pollution in Hong Kong-A Time to act' published in June 1989 set out a series of new measures costing up to $20 billion and a ten-year capital works programme. The actual work includes the setting up of the Planning Environment and Lands Branch, the Drainage Services Department and the Planning Department; the declaration of Port Shelter and Junk Bay as Water
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
273
Control Zones; the declaration of Air Control Zones and the enforcement of Noise Control Ordinance in respect of noises from domestic, commercial and industrial premises and construction sites, including the provisions on the control of piling works at day time. All these are the Government's achievements on environmental protection in 1989, indicative of its determination in this area of work.
I remember that in the Urban Council Annual Debate held last year, it was pointed out by a Councillor that the policy adopted by the Government towards environmental protection was of a stopgap nature which only provided a temporary but not radical solution to the problem. As a result, the problem remains there permanently. Indeed, the seriousness of the problem of environmental pollution is directly proportional to the rate of economic growth and the increase in population of our society. Of course, we cannot stop our society from prospering and progressing just for the sake of solving the problem of environmental pollution. What the Government can do is to adopt a more positive attitude towards various problems of pollution and try to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the natural world rather than discharge all the pollutants 'safely' into the natural world. Therefore, landfills for disposal of wastes, submarine sewage outfalls and sludge dumping grounds are not long-term solutions to the problems generated by waste, sewage and sludge, as it is impossible to rely solely on the 'digestivity' of the ecological system to cope with the increasing amount of sewage and waste generated as a result of the economic growth and progress of our society. This is only a way to alleviate the problem of pollution and cannot be regarded as the work of environmental protection. Hence, the Government should allocate more funds to studies on recycling of waste and sewage treatment systems. This would be more meaningful than engaging consultancy firms to see where to provide new landfills or sludge dumping grounds to replace existing ones.
Since June this year, most citizens have been very concerned about the development of the political relationships between China, Britain and Hong Kong. However, people seem to have overlooked the close geographical relationship between China and Hong Kong. With the introduction of open economy and development of commerce and industry in Shenzhen, the problem of environmental pollution has emerged. The direct discharge of the pollutants of Sham Chun River into Hau Hoi Wan has seriously affected the natural environment of the area and the largest operation of oyster culture in Hong Kong. Moreover, the hygienic condition of drinking water directly supplied from the Dongjiang to Hong Kong has become a matter of deep concern for all the people of Hong Kong. Therefore, the authorities concerned should carry out work in this regard as soon as possible. I believe that most Hong Kong people share my hope that the political issue will cause no 'pollution' to the proposals put forward for solving the environmental problem.
1989 is also memorable in that a series of big capital projects was put forward by Sir David WILSON, the Governor of Hong Kong, in his Annual Address to
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