ENG-1976 — Page 272

192

THE ENVIRONMENT

consultants were engaged in 1974 to study the situation. Their recommendations form the basis for the new legislation and they also advised on establishing the Environmental Protection Unit, for which professional staff is being recruited.

A constant watch on the environment is kept by the Advisory Committee on Environmental Pollution (EPCOM), which advises the Secretary for the Environment on measures to combat pollution.

In 1976 the Environment Branch covered a wide range of activities concerned with the countryside, water pollution, air pollution monitoring requirements, improve- ments to incinerators, and the control of noise from various sources. In May, the emission of hot air and dripping water from ventilation systems became statutory nuisances following an amendment to the Public Health and Urban Services Ordin- ance. A further amendment to the ordinance specified that noise from ventilation systems is also a nuisance, and this amendment takes effect in 1977.

A month-long campaign against noise pollution was held towards the end of 1976. It concentrated on the nuisance which can be caused by ventilation plant of the type used by hotels, restaurants and other large commercial concerns. An appeal was made to all operators to make sure that their plant did not cause excessive noise which would annoy neighbours.

The air pollution control unit of the Labour Department has four daily monitor- ing stations, and the records in 1976 continued to show a significant reduction in sulphur dioxide concentration. At Hung Hom, the level of sulphur dioxide was only about one 30th of the maximum permitted level of 50 parts per hundred million. Readings at the station at Queen Elizabeth Hospital were about one part per hundred million, while readings at Sham Shui Po and at the Central Market were less than one part per hundred million. The readings at Sham Shui Po, which are normally the highest among the four stations in smoke densities, began to show a steady decrease during the year.

A three-month preliminary environmental survey of pollution levels in various districts was carried out jointly by the air pollution control unit and the chemistry department of the University of Hong Kong. Four common aerial pollutants-sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and particulates-were monitored at dif- ferent levels in busy streets and in industrial areas to study the trend of air pollution. The findings are now being analysed.

During the year, the control unit received and investigated 863 air pollution complaints from the public. Although the unit finds that offering constructive advice is more effective than stringent enforcement, it is still sometimes necessary to initate prosecution under the Clean Air Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations against persistent offenders. In 1976 there were 71 prosecution cases with fines ranging from $75 to $2,000.

Farming Wastes

A considerable amount of applied research is being carried out in the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to determine how livestock manures can be processed and