ENG-1985 — Page 335

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THE ENVIRONMENT

was sought from the EPA and the Engineering Development Department on the most suitable disposal method to be employed for these wastes. About 150 disposal applications were dealt with by the Engineering Development Department in 1985 under the interim disposal arrangements.

Monitoring of water quality in the coastal regions continued throughout the year. The general monitoring programme of the Pollution Control (Liquid and Solid Wastes) Division of the Engineering Development Department, which covers offshore and near- shore sites as well as the quality of effluents from sewage outfalls and treatment works around the territory, provided not only useful base-line data for monitoring and surveil- lance purposes but valuable input into the planning of sewage treatment facilities as well. Information on beach water quality was collected both by the Engineering Development Department and by the Urban Services and Regional Services Departments; all gazetted and some non-gazetted bathing beaches were included. The EPA continued its intensive monitoring of water quality in Tolo Harbour and Channel, Port Shelter, Junk Bay and many of the territory's streams. The monitoring results are used to calibrate and validate the Tolo predictive mathematical model and to provide a data base for any future Water Control Zones declared under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. The same informa- tion is also used in the design of improvement programmes for inland watercourses.

The general quality of most marine waters is good. But there are areas of poor water circulation (which include both large semi-enclosed water masses such as Tolo Harbour and Channel and smaller typhoon shelters) which cannot accept large pollutant loads and their water quality is in certain instances considered unacceptable. In Tolo Harbour, some reduction in pollution loads from one of the main contributors, the Sha Tin sewage treatment works, had been achieved during 1984; this was reflected in better rates of compliance with water quality objectives during the latter half of that year. This sewage plant was designed in anticipation of future population growth and it is still operating well below its optimum capacity. Further controls of pollution due to both livestock rearing and industry will be required if the water quality in this area is to be improved. The quality of water in the rivers discharging into Tolo Harbour, as elsewhere in the New Territories, is still a cause for serious concern, and this too requires continued action on a broad front with controls on pollution from agricultural, industrial and domestic sources.

Consultation and Collaboration

The Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee (EPCOM) exists to advise the govern- ment on all aspects of pollution in the environment. In particular, the committee helps the Secretary for Health and Welfare to ensure that new pollution control legisla- tion is appropriate to the situation in Hong Kong and that it balances the need for environmental improvement against the need to ensure that industry remains viable and competitive.

The committee had been restructured in 1984, taking over the responsibilities of the former Environmental Protection Advisory Committee and the Clean Hong Kong Steering Committee. EPCOM is now composed entirely of unofficials and this emphasises its independence. The Secretary for Health and Welfare and the Commissioner for Environ- mental Protection attend all meetings and other officials attend at the chairman's request. The membership of EPCOM in 1985 included two members of the Legislative Council, one member of the Heung Yee Kuk, two district board members, one Urban Councillor, three academics, representatives of three major industrial or commercial organisations the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, and