ENG-1985 — Page 329

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The Environment

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THE government's environmental protection programme has been developed progressively since 1977, when consultants reported on what should be done to protect the environment. Achievements in the eight years since then include: the enactment of three major ordinances and other subsidiary legislation; the establishment, staffing and equipping of the Environ- mental Protection Agency; establishment or strengthening of control units within various government departments; and the introduction of comprehensive environmental pollution monitoring programmes. In addition, there has been the continued implementation of a multi-billion dollar programme of public works to provide for the treatment and disposal of sewage and municipal solid wastes and for improving emission control of municipal incinerators, the incorporation of environmental considerations into the planning process, as well as the use of environmental impact assessment for major development projects.

Framework for Pollution Control

The task of formulating policy for the control of pollution is the responsibility of the Secretary for Health and Welfare. The secretary is supported in this task by the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was set up in early 1981 to assume a central role in formulating and co-ordinating the implementation of the government's policies in this field, and to provide a source of expertise and scientific data on all aspects of pollution control and environmental planning. The work of the EPA involves assistance in formulating new legislation, establishing environmental quality objectives, monitoring long-term pollution trends, developing pollution control programmes, assessing and advising on the impact of major new developments, and providing assistance with en- vironmental planning aspects of government projects.

Various pollution control functions, such as the enforcement of legislation, issuing of licences, and the surveillance and control of individual discharges and emissions, are now carried out by the Air Pollution Control Division in the Labour Department, the Pollution Control (Liquid and Solid Wastes) Division in the Engineering Development Department, the Noise and Vibration Control Section in the Municipal Services Branch, the Agricultural Waste Control Division in the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, and the Pollution Control Unit in the Marine Department. Certain other control activities are undertaken as part of various government programmes, such as the granting of construction noise permits. by the Director of Engineering Development or the control of vehicle emissions by the Royal Hong Kong Police Force. In order to make the best use of the resources employed on pollution control and to ensure that the government's policy can be carried out effectively, it has been decided that pollution control functions should be rationalised and centralised with the EPA assuming an operational and executive role. The necessary changes to give effect to this decision will take place on April 1, 1986.