ENG-1980 — Page 288

THE ENVIRONMENT

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Under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance the Urban Services Depart- ment continued to control noise nuisances caused by air-conditioning and ventilating systems. A total of 295 complaints were received and investigated and these led to the issue of 73 abatement notices all of which were complied with and no prosecutions were

necessary.

Water Pollution

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Severe pollution problems in Hong Kong's waters have been avoided to a large extent because of the diluting effect of strong coastal currents. The large majority of effluents are discharged into Victoria Harbour through short outfalls after preliminary screening only. However, with the rapid population growth, the establishment of new towns in areas of restricted water circulation – such as Tolo Harbour in the New Territories – and the expan- sion of the industrial base, the Public Works Department has developed a new approach to maintain and improve conditions. The new towns of Sha Tin, Tai Po and Tuen Mun will each have a sewage treatment works. These will be capable of producing good quality effluent suited to the pollution absorption capacity of the surrounding waters. In areas where bathing and recreation are important, sewage will be treated to an appropriate standard to protect public health. At Repulse Bay, for example, the final effluent from the sewage treatment works is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria and other organisms.

For the main centres of population and industry flanking Victoria Harbour, plans have been drawn up for a new treatment works to serve north-west Kowloon. Measures are also in hand to extend existing short outfalls to deeper water for better dispersion and dilution.

The Water Pollution Control Ordinance will enable the waters of Hong Kong to be sub-divided into areas appropriate for certain activities such as fishing, marine fish culture and bathing, and industrial activities such as dockyards, shipbuilding and cargo handling. For each of these activities a set of water quality criteria will be prescribed, and the pollu- tion control authority within the Public Works Department will implement controls over individual discharges.

The Pollution Control Unit of the Marine Department is responsible for dealing with offshore oil pollution, the collection of floating refuse, and control of all dumping activities in Hong Kong waters.

The unit maintains surveillance on all aspects of oil transfer to and from ships; it inspects tankers discharging fuel oil at the various terminals, and the terminais also, in an effort to detect or prevent any spillages. Since the unit's establishment, numerous pollution offenders have been successfully prosecuted; the maximum penalty being a fine of $200,000. The costs incurred in clearing or dispersing oil pollution are recovered from offenders.

To combat oil pollution, the unit has at its disposal a launch equipped with modern pollution control facilities, a shallow-draught launch, stocks of low-toxicity chemical dis- persants, an oil containment boom, polyurethane absorbents and an oil skimmer. In an emergency, 20 government launches fitted with oil pollution equipment can be mobilised and deployed at short notice.

As a result of Hong Kong agreeing to participate in three international conventions on marine pollution, the use of oil dispersant and surface tension modifier chemicals has been restricted since January 1, 1979, to approved types with a low toxicity to marine life. All users of these chemicals in Hong Kong waters are required to obtain a licence issued by the Director of Marine.