ENG-1981 — Page 293

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THE ENVIRONMENT

The 12-month mean averages of sulphur dioxide recorded at the four daily monitoring stations at Hung Hom, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sham Shui Po and Central Market were respectively 102 ug/m3, 96 ug/m3, 18 ug/m3 and 36 ug/m3 and the corresponding smoke density readings were 22 ug/m3, 34 ug/m3, 62 ug/m3, 46 ug/m3. The highest daily reading of sulphur dioxide registered was 989 ug/m3 which was below the maximum guideline of 1 310 ug/m3 recommended by the former Advisory Committee on Air Pollution.

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An environmental survey, Project Simla, was conducted during 1981 under the co- ordination of the division and carried out by students from the Chemistry Department of the University of Hong Kong. Levels of carbon monoxide, lead particulates, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides were examined in various districts.

Water Pollution

The effects of strong coastal currents in Hong Kong's waters have helped to a large extent to dilute the severity of its pollution problems. With the main centres of population and industry being concentrated around Victoria Harbour a new treatment works is being built to serve north-west Kowloon, and existing outfalls are being extended to deeper water for better dispersion and dilution.

The establishment of new towns and the expansion of the industrial base in areas of restricted water circulation (such as Tolo Harbour) has led the Public Works Department to develop 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 capable of matching the quality of the effluent to the pollution absorption capacity of the surrounding waters. And in areas where bathing and recreation are important, sewage will be treated to a standard necessary 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.

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Under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, water control zones and water quality objectives are being established where necessary to enable the control authorities Director of Public Works and the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries to implement appropriate measures over discharges which will maintain the water quality in relation to specific uses.

As Hong Kong is also a party to a number of international maritime conventions concerned with oil and other forms of pollution, the Pollution Control Unit of the Marine Department is responsible for dealing with offshore oil pollution, the collection of floating refuse, control of all marine dumping activities, and surveillance of all aspects of oil transfer to and from ships. In an effort to detect and prevent any spillages, the unit inspects tankers discharging fuel oil and the various terminals. Since the unit's establishment, many pollution offenders have been successfully prosecuted. The maximum penalty, on convic- tion, is a fine of $200,000 and costs incurred in clearing or dispersing oil pollution are recoverable from offenders.

To combat oil pollution, the unit has a purpose-built vessel equipped with pollution control facilities, a shallow draught workboat, stocks of low toxicity chemical dispersants, more than 2 400 metres of large and medium sized oil containment booms, polyurethane absorbents and an oil skimmer. A substantial inventory of oil pollution equipment within the government and oil companies can be deployed at short notice in the event of an emergency.

Floating refuse is a perennial problem and during the year some 4 500 tonnes of floating refuse were collected from the harbour, including domestic refuse from ocean-going vessels in.port.