ENG-1982 — Page 308

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The Environment

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THE Overall strategy for environmental protection continued to be developed during the year with recognition given to Hong Kong's special needs and problems. The programme rests on three vital areas of legislation, consultation and the organisation of resources.

Dealing with matters of geophysics and meteorology, such as weather forecasting and the provision of tropical cyclone warnings, the Royal Observatory provides a comprehensive service to the public and to international shipping and aviation. Major projects during the year included the installation of a new weather radar, the improvement of the landslip warning system, and continued research for the proposed new airport site at Chek Lap Kok.

Legislation

approved and proposed

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Environmental protection legislation

is divided into five ordinances covering waste disposal, air and water pollution, noise control, and environ- mental impact assessment of projects. Each ordinance is intended to establish a framework for the drafting of detailed regulations. The general principle is to control polluting emissions by varying licence conditions according to local environmental requirements, rather than by the imposition of uniform standards.

The Waste Disposal Ordinance improves on previous provisions for the collection and disposal of waste and specifies the statutory authorities responsible for each duty. Sections of the ordinance, relating mainly to waste collection, have been brought into operation and gradual introduction of the remaining provisions will be carried out in phases, as staff become available for their implementation. Work is proceeding on the formulation of regulations under the ordinance to provide for the safe disposal of toxic, hazardous and difficult wastes, of agricultural wastes and on the preparation of a statutory Waste Disposal Plan which will set out the government's long-term programme for waste disposal.

The Water Pollution Control Ordinance is designed to ensure proper control of pollution levels in local waters. The ordinance provides for the declaration of water control zones where different water quality objectives will be specified according to the beneficial uses of the areas such as recreation, fish-farming, irrigation and other activities. The first water control zone, covering Tolo Harbour and Tolo Channel, was declared in February 1982 and water quality objectives have been determined for the zone. The ordinance will soon be fully effective in this area. Considerable research and monitoring is being carried out prior to the extension of these controls to ensure that licence conditions will achieve the environmental quality objectives for each area. In doing so, a flexible approach is being adopted instead of imposing blanket controls.

The Air Pollution Control Bill, which is currently being considered by the Legislative Council, is intended to deal with pollutants emitted from stationary sources. Basically, it incorporates the controls on grit and smoke now contained in the Clean Air Ordinance,