ENG-1986 — Page 337

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THE ENVIRONMENT

on the sewage disposal scheme for west Kowloon which will be completed in early 1990. An action plan has been developed for Tolo Harbour to arrest the decline in water quality over the short term and improve it to meet the water quality objectives over the medium term (1990).

Work on improvement measures for Kai Tak Nullah continued. Following the intercep- tion of some foul sewage flows, and a limited dredging programme, oxygen is now being injected into the lower nullah. It will, however, take some time for the full benefit of these works to become apparent.

To improve the water quality of the Tuen Mun nullah and typhoon shelter, the dry weather flow in upper Tuen Mun nullah has been intercepted and is now being discharged at the Pillar Point sewage outfall.

The amount of wastes collected by the Urban Services and the Regional Services departments, together with industrial and other wastes collected privately, currently averages 8 000 tonnes a day. Of this total 2 100 tonnes are incinerated at the three municipal incineration plants at Kennedy Town, Lai Chi Kok and Kwai Chung, and the remainder is deposited in controlled tips at Junk Bay, Jordan Valley, Pillar Point Valley and Shuen Wan.

Solid waste arisings are expected to double in the next 10 years. The strategy developed for their disposal, with the aid of a computerised Waste Management Model, involves a move away from incineration and small local controlled tips to a system of transfer stations feeding a few very large controlled tips.

Nim Wan South and Ping Yeung North have been identified as the major long term disposal facilities for the New Territories. To ensure that environmental effects are minimised, environmental impact assessments have been undertaken. These two controlled tips will provide sufficient disposal capacity for 30 to 40 years.

Proposals have been developed for Hong Kong's first refuse transfer station at Kowloon Bay, supported by the new controlled tips, to replace Jordan Valley Controlled Tip and Lai Chi Kok Incinerator. This transfer station is expected to start operation in 1989. Consultants are also examining the feasibility of upgrading Chai Wan Composting Plant to a refuse transfer station to ensure that disposal facilities exist on Hong Kong Island to cater for the increased quantities of waste. To reduce smoke nuisance from urban incinerators, electrostatic precipitators have been fitted to the Kennedy Town Incinerator and will be fitted to the Lai Chi Kok Incinerator ‘A' Plant by July 1988.

The Marine Department is responsible for harbour cleansing. It operates a fleet of one harbour sweeper and six Water Witches that collect an average of 17.9 tonnes of floating refuse per day. In addition the department collects about 7.5 tonnes of refuse each day from ocean going vessels moored in Victoria Harbour and dwelling boats in typhoon shelters. To combat oil pollution, the department operates a purpose-built pollution control vessel and has stocks of low toxicity chemical dispersants, and more than 2 400 metres of large and medium size oil containment booms.

Monitoring and Investigations

There has always been a commitment to value for money in the government's environmental protection programmes. This means that any controls or facilities have to be demonstrably right for the prevailing circumstances in Hong Kong, and not merely copies from abroad. Accordingly, the Environmental Protection Department operates a comprehen- sive monitoring scheme and undertakes investigations to establish an objective basis for local action.