THE ENVIRONMENT
227
should be transferred from the Secretary for Home Affairs to the newly-titled Secretary for Health and Welfare.
In early 1981, the Environmental Protection Unit, comprising a small nucleus of specialists within the Government Secretariat, was transformed into the free-standing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its aim is to provide a central source of expertise and scientific data on all aspects of pollution control and to assume a central co-ordinating role in the formulation and execution of government policies in this field. This work involves establishing quality objectives, monitoring long-term trends in environmental quality, assessing and advising on the environmental impact of major new developments, and providing assistance with environmental planning aspects of government projects.
Control units have been created or strengthened in several government departments to enforce legislation, issue licences and provide surveillance and control for individual discharges or emissions. Their responsibility will be to ensure that the level of pollutants in any area does not result in a breach of quality objectives specified for that area.
The strategy for environmental protection is to ensure that projects which could constitute potential sources of pollution incorporate adequate control measures at the initial stages. Developers must submit detailed environmental impact assessments to the government, as in the case of the new power stations at Tap Shek Kok and on Lamma Island where reports are made on aqueous and aerial emissions, with the visual impact of the stations among the assessments examined.
Environmental studies of development areas, such as Junk Bay, which will provide industrial and residential land on the eastern side of Kowloon, also ensure environmental protection. These studies involve data gathering, measurement and analysis to determine the capacity of the Junk Bay environment to absorb or disperse polluting emissions and to establish control strategies for such emissions from the expected development.
Air Pollution
The Air Pollution Control Division of the Labour Department administers the Clean Air Ordinance, the Clean Air (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations, and the Clean Air (Restriction and Measurement of Smoke Emission) Regulations, which provide for the control of smoke and grit emitted from stationary sources. The Labour Department is making the necessary preparations to administer the Air Pollution Control Bill which, when enacted, will replace the Clean Air Ordinance.
During the year, staff of the division inspected 5 460 premises and gave advice to industry on matters concerning statutory requirements, design and installation of air pollution control equipment, and measures to prevent contravention of the clean air legislation. It processed 326 sets of plans and specifications submitted for approval under the Clean Air (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations. Air pollution complaints received and investigated numbered 1 285, the majority of which were satisfactorily resolved through advice to the management without the need to resort to enforcement action.
Some 124 prosecutions were initiated under the Clean Air Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations, seven for failure to abate smoke nuisances, 57 for emitting excessive dark smoke, and 60 for unauthorised installation of furnaces, ovens or chimneys, resulting in 121 convictions and fines ranging from $200 to $3,000.
In 1982, 15 cases of suspected air pollution incidents affecting school children were reported at various locations. Following the recurrence of such incidents around June each year, the
government has set up a committee to devise response procedures, and to monitor
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.