ENG-1987 — Page 340

21

The Environment

HONG KONG's pollution problems are similar to those experienced in other urban areas in the world. The main concerns are: pollution of streams in the New Territories by livestock wastes; smoke emissions from diesel-engined vehicles; excessive noise from construction works, road traffic and air-conditioning installations; pollution of bathing beaches; water pollution black spots such as nullahs and typhoon shelters, and the continuing need to dispose of large amounts of sewage and municipal and industrial wastes in an environ- mentally acceptable manner.

In response to these concerns, a comprehensive and closely integrated programme for the protection of Hong Kong's environment has been developed progressively over the past decade. Achievements in this area include the enactment of three major pollution control and waste disposal ordinances and other subsidiary legislation, the establishment of the Environmental Protection Department, the introduction of comprehensive environmental pollution monitoring programmes, the incorporation of environmental considerations into the planning process and the use of environmental impact assessment for major develop- ment projects.

This chapter looks at the various elements of the government's programme aimed at protecting the environment, including planning against pollution; legislation on environ- mental protection; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastes; environmental monitor- ing and investigations and consultation and collaboration on environmental management. The geology, topography, climate, wildlife and vegetation of Hong Kong are also reviewed, as well as the monitoring of the territory's weather.

Topography and Geology

Hong Kong is part of an ancient Cathaysian landmass that extended from Shandong in northern China to the Gulf of Hainan some 1 000 million years ago. After intensive folding of its metamorphic and crystalline rocks, intense mountain building with granitic intrusions and volcanic outpouring occurred during the Mesozoic period, about 250 million years ago. From the beginning of the Quaternary period, two or three million years ago, the low lying areas were alternately flooded and exposed as masses of water were locked up or released from ice sheets on a global scale. The last marine incursion was about 10 000 years ago. Since that time, deposition of sedimentary material eroded from the hills has continued sporadically. Erosion of the hills and deposition in the valleys increased rapidly under the influence of man following the widespread colonisation of the Hong Kong area during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Large volumes of sedimentary material are brought to Hong Kong's waters by the Zhu Jiang (Pearl) River. In recent years, the consequent sedimentation has been added to by extensive reclamation projects along the coastline. Hong Kong's granitic and volcanic