ENG-1974 — Page 262

THE ENVIRONMENT

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manure from buildings directly into stream courses. The unit was investigating im- provements that could be made. A treatment system for pig manure was being set up at the government farm at Ta Kwu Ling. This will be used to determine design criteria for other similar systems and will demonstrate to local farmers the methods that are available for treating their wastes.

Marine pollution comes under the surveillance of an inter-departmental working party on the co-ordination of monitoring of local waters, under the chairmanship of the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. The current monitoring programmes cover a wide range of physical, chemical and biological parameters and are designed to conserve marine environment quality and ecology and preserve recreational amenities and public health. Base-line data is being collected to identity any future deterioration in the marine environment. In its report to EPCOM in April 1974 the working party agreed that existing techniques for physical and chemical monitoring were acceptable and reasonably well standardised. The coverage in these fields is com- prehensive and additional turbidity measurements and dispersion studies in relation to specific sources of pollution were being contemplated. Biological monitoring has been initiated with surveys of inshore fisheries resources. The working party also recognises the need for studies of living organisms as accumulators of pollutants, and as indicators of the amounts and toxic effects of pollutants in waste discharges by employing biological assay and sensor procedures. The establishment of a centralised pollution monitoring system and information centre was considered premature, although it was agreed to make data within departments readily and freely available to others working in related fields.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department carried out hydrographical and fisheries surveys in the East Lamma Channel to assess the effects of the Ap Lei Chau oil spill in November 1973. Tainting trials and cage experiments were also conducted to study its effects on fish reared in captivity.

The pollution control unit of the Marine Department deals with the three main aspects of harbour pollution-oil pollution, harbour scavenging and refuse collection from ocean-going vessels.

Under the overall guidance of a marine officer, the unit maintains surveillance on all aspects of oil transfer to and from ships. A patrol launch is used for this purpose and regular and frequent checks are made on ships and oil installations. Since the inception of the unit in 1971, many pollution offenders have been successfully prosecuted in the courts. The maximum fine for pollution in the harbour has recently been increased to $20,000 and six months imprisonment, and an additional fine of $4,000 can be imposed for failure to report oil pollution. The unit is equipped with stocks of oil dispersants, spray booms, sea-surface agitators and oil containment booms, and launches are always in a state of readiness to deal with oil pollution. A purpose-built launch which will be equipped with modern pollution control facilities was being constructed. VHF radio facilities enable the on-scene-commander to communicate and co-ordinate with the Port Communication Centre in the event of oil spillages.