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a tiny sitting-out area; road repair works and the laying of water pipes and wires render the roads in disorder. All these bring about unnecessary noise and air pollution problems to city dwellers. In this connection, it seems that the government is still adopting a conservative and passive policy. No action will be taken unless complaints have been received. Unfortunately, no request for improvement will be raised unless the problems have become intolerable. Development of Hong Kong is carried out on an overall basis, we should not attend to one thing and lose sight of another. It is necessary for the government to adopt a way of improvement of its own accord.
the Legislative Council. These projects include a new airport to be built at Chek Lap Kok; large-scale reclamation works to be carried out at West Kowloon, Central District and Wan Chai and the redevelopment of the urban areas of East Kowloon. However, with regard to these exhilarating projects, has ample consideration been given to the factors which bear an impact on the natural environment? To what extent will the natural environment be affected by noise and air pollution caused by the operation of the new airport? Will problems of air pollution be brought about by the highway network set up for the new airport? To what extent will the large-scale reclamation works to be carried out at Wan Chai and Central District affect the water quality of the Victoria Harbour? Moreover, the development of Junk Bay has been going on for a long time but the Government is only setting about to assess the environmental impact of the development works now. In fact, it had been envisaged in preliminary studies that the development of transport and industries and the operation of reclamation works, marine borrowing and landfills in that area would cause a series of environmental problems, such as air, noise and water pollution, while the existence of depositories of dangerous chemicals would pose a potential danger of explosion. There are such problems because the environmental problem was overlooked when town planning was carried out at that time.
So on 1 September 1989, the government set up the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch so as to make the work of environmental improvement as part of the whole planning system. The Branch is responsible for environmental planning and evaluation. Influences on the environment are to be evaluated by the Environmental Protection Department; the EPCOM will give its own opinions while collecting those of others. Doubtlessly this can effectively prevent adverse influences imposed by major development projects on the environment. It is also a thorough way to protect the environment from pollution. The government, however, makes no effort to give publicity to the EPCOM, whose function as an advisory body would certainly be greatly affected. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Department has been playing the passive role of an advisory body in other aspects of environmental protection work. It has been granted no statutory power to enforce the law. All such work is done by other government departments. This greatly impairs our efficiency in evaluating private developers' projects of all scales and in dealing with environmental pollution problems, and is unfavourable to the environmental protection campaign which is growing in importance.
Although the government is evaluating influences of forthcoming development projects on the environment, old urban districts and communities are still pestered with numerous environmental problems resulting from a negligence of environmental planning during the early stage of construction when emphasis was solely placed on convenience of usage. In these areas, residence, schools, high-speed motorways and elevated vehicular links are closely packed together; residential premises are separated from industrial buildings only by a single road; in densely populated areas, uncovered refuse collection points occupy roadside spots where heavy traffic passes by;
The most radical and effective policy of environmental protection is 'to nip the problem in the bud'. In view of this, the government plans to step up its publicity on environmental protection. $400,000 has been allocated for use in the 1989-90 environmental protection campaign. What an encouraging step! The promotion reel on harbour pollution recently shown on television is very impressive, but more has to be done at schools. The concept of environmental protection should be fostered since one's childhood, so environmental education should be introduced at an earlier stage of primary school years. To achieve the best results, Environmental Science should be included in the syllabus of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.
It is an undeniable fact that environmental pollution is a concomitant of the existence of human beings. The most radical solution is to segregate men completely from nature. A feasible way is to have sacrifices made on both sides so as to strive for a balance. I firmly believe that we will do a better job in environmental protection.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. JOHN WU MAN-KEUNG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I am honoured to have been elected as the District Board representative to the Urban Council to provide further service to society. Besides, I am not at the top of the list of the Councillors but the last on the list. Nine months have lapsed since I joined the Urban Council. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the senior Councillors and colleagues for their sincere guidance.
Although I have only joined the Urban Council for nine months, its honourable tradition, orderly council proceedings, efficiency and the practical style of work have made a deep impression on me. But for those who are not directly involved in the work of the Urban Council, they may have different perceptions.
It is most appropriate for the government this time to arrange for District Boards to indirectly elect representatives to join the Urban Council. This is far better than the previous practice of assigning Urban Councillors to join District Boards. This not only raises the prestige of District Boards, but also contributes to the efficient implementation of local administration. It is my responsibility to
Page 144 of 166
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a tiny sitting-out area; road repair works and the laying of water pipes and wires render the roads in disorder. All these bring about unnecessary noise and air pollution problems to city dwellers. In this connection, it seems that the government is still adopting a conservative and passive policy. No action will be taken unless complaints have been received. Unfortunately, no request for improvement will be raised unless the problems have become intolerable. Development of Hong Kong is carried out on an overall basis, we should not attend to one thing and lose sight of another. It is necessary for the government to adopt a way of improvement of its own accord.
the Legislative Council. These projects include a new airport to be built at Chek collection points occupy roadside spots where heavy traffic passes by; a Lap Kok; large-scale reclamation works to be carried out at West Kowloon, community inhabited with tens of thousands of residents is only provided with Central District and Wan Chai and the redevelopment of the urban areas of East Kowloon. However, with regard to these exhilarating projects, has ample consideration been given to the factors which bear an impact on the natural environment? To what extent will the natural environment be affected by noise and air pollution caused by the operation of the new airport? Will problems of air pollution be brought about by the highway network set up for the new airport? To what extent will the large-scale reclamation works to be carried out at Wan Chai and Central District affect the water quality of the Victoria Harbour? Moreover, the development of Junk Bay has been going on for a long time but the Government is only setting about to assess the environmental impact of the development works now. In fact, it had been envisaged in preliminary studies that the development of transport and industries and the operation of reclamation works, marine borrowing and landfills in that area would cause a series of environmental problems, such as air, noise and water pollution, while the existence of depositories of dangerous chemicals would pose a potential danger of explosion. There are such problems because the environmental problem was overlooked when town planning was carried out at that time.
So on 1 September 1989, the government set up the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch so as to make the work of environmental improvement as part of the whole planning system. The Branch is responsible for environmental planning and evaluation. Influences on the environment is to be evaluated by the Environmental Protection Department; the EPCOM will give its own opinions while collecting those of others. Doubtlessly this can effectively prevent adverse influences imposed by major development projects on the environment. It is also a thorough way to protect the environment from pollution. The government, however, makes no effort to give publicity to the EPCOM, whose function as an advisory body would certainly be greatly affected. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Department has been playing the passive role of an advisory body in other aspects of environmental protection work. It has been granted no statutory power to enforce the law. All such work is done by other government departments. This greatly impairs out efficiency in evaluating private developer's projects of all scales and in dealing with environmental pollution problems, and is unfavourable to the environmental protection campaign which is growing in importance.
Although the government is evaluating influences of forthcoming development projects on the environment, old urban districts and communities are still pestered with numerous environmental problems resulting from a negligence of environmental planning during the early stage of construction when emphasis was solely placed on convenience of usage. In these areas, residence, schools, high-speed motorways and elevated vehicular links are closely packed together; residential premises are separated from industrial buildings only by a single road; in densely populated areas, uncovered refuse
The most radical and effective policy of environmental protection is 'to nip the problem in the bud'. In view of this, the government plans to step up its publicity on environmental protection. $400,000 has been allocated for use of the 1989-90 environmental protection campaign. What an encouraging step! The promotion reel on harbour pollution recently shown on television is very impressive, but more has to be done at schools. The concept of environmental protection should be fostered since one's childhood, so environmental education should be introduced at an earlier stage of primary school years. To achieve the best results, Environmental Science should be included in the syllabus of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.
It is an undeniable fact that environmental pollution is a concommittant of the existence of human beings. The most radical solution is to segregate men completely from nature. A feasible way is to have sacrifices made on both sides so as to strive a balance. I firmly believe that we will do a better job in environmental protection.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. JOHN WU MAN-KEUNG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I am honoured to have been elected as the District Board representative to the Urban Council to provide further service to society. Besides, I am not on the top of the list of the Councillors but the last of the list. Nine months have lapsed since I joined the Urban Council. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the senior Councillors and colleagues for their sincere guidance.
Although I have only joined the Urban Council for nine months, its honourable tradition, orderly council proceedings, efficiency and the practical style of work have made a deep impression on me. But for those who are not directly involved in the work of the Urban Council, they may have different perceptions.
It is most appropriate for the government this time to arrange for District Boards to indirectly elect representatives to join the Urban Council. This is far better than the previous practice of assigning Urban Councillors to join District Boards. This not only raises the prestige of District Boards, but also contributes to the efficient implementation of local administration. It is my responsibility to
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