ENG-1988 — Page 368

THE ENVIRONMENT

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wildlife. There are now 21 country parks, covering over 40 per cent of the land area in the territory.

Overall enforcement of the ordinances is carried out by nature wardens and park wardens. These officers also provide information at visitor centres and escort groups on guided visits. In addition to general conservation of the countryside, Hong Kong has adopted the concept of identifying and conserving sites of special scientific interest, such as a site where a rare tree or a rare species of butterfly can be found. Forty-seven sites have so far been identified.

Protecting the Environment

The development of Hong Kong in the past 30 years into one of the world's great centres of trade and commerce and also into a major manufacturing centre has brought increased affluence and a higher standard of living for its people.

Unfortunately, this increased affluence has been achieved sometimes at the expense of the environment. Untreated liquid wastes have been discharged into rivers and coastal waters, dirty waste gases have been discharged directly into the air, there has been little or no control of noise pollution and scarce land resources have often been used in such a way as to create long term environmental problems.

When living standards were low, this situation was accepted by the community as part of the price of development, but as Hong Kong people become increasingly affluent they are also becoming more concerned with the quality of life, and are now aware of the need to protect and improve the environment.

The Hong Kong Government is committed to a comprehensive programme of envi- ronmental improvements which will extend over the next decade and beyond. The main objectives of the government's programme are:

to impose strict controls on the discharge of gaseous emissions and liquid and solid wastes, and on the generation of noise,

to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for the collection, treatment and disposal of all types of waste, and

to ensure that good environmental planning is practised in order to avoid the creation of adverse environmental effects and new problems for the future.

Overall policy responsibility for the protection of the environment was vested with the Secretary for Lands and Works with effect from November 1, 1988. He is advised by the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee (EPCOM), the chairman and most members of which are appointed by the Governor from outside the government.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), established on April 1, 1986, plays the central role in the execution of the government's environmental protection and improvement programme. It undertakes environmental planning, the enforcement of the major pollution control legislation, planning for and development of waste treatment and disposal facilities, and the monitoring of environmental quality. Several other government departments also make important contributions in a number of areas. The Civil Engineer- ing Services Department designs and constructs sewerage systems, sewage treatment works and landfills. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is responsible for the construction and operation of incinerators and for the operation of sewage treatment works. The Marine Department takes action against oil spills and clears floating refuse from the harbour. The Urban Services Department and Regional Services Department provide street cleaning and refuse collection services. The Territory Development Depart- ment also contributes to the overall environmental protection programme.