ENG-1989 — Page 391

THE ENVIRONMENT

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increasing public awareness will continue in the future and will provide a further impetus to the government, the private sector and the community as a whole to protect and improve Hong Kong's environment.

Legislation and Pollution Control

Water Pollution

In its battle against Hong Kong's widespread water pollution problems, the government has adopted an environmental quality management approach. Community uses of different areas of water are identified, perhaps for commercial fishing, sourcing of community and industrial water supplies, or simply for enjoyment or recreation. Then the quality of water which is appropriate for each use is assessed and water quality objectives are defined for each area of water. To achieve or maintain these water quality objectives, the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO) was enacted in 1980 for controlling discharges.

The WPCO applies within defined areas called water control zones (WCZs). Tolo Harbour and Channel, notorious for its heavily-polluted water, was the first WCZ to be declared in 1982. This was followed in 1988 by the Southern WCZ, which embraces the southern parts of Hong Kong Island and Lantao and the outlying islands in the southern waters, where there are many swimming beaches. In the past, control over discharges in the Southern WCZ has been limited to domestic sewage, but starting from August 1, 1989, control was extended to all effluents, thereby including the polluting discharges from manufacturing, commercial and construction industries. Resulting from these controls, the water quality of many bathing beaches has improved, and no more beaches were closed in 1989.

In order to preserve the amenity and recreation values of the relatively clean water in Junk Bay and Port Shelter, these regions were declared as WCZs on August 1, 1989. As Junk Bay is a rapidly-developing new town, controls have been implemented at this stage to ensure preservation of the area's water quality. In these new zones, all types of dis- charges are controlled.

In order to enforce the WPCO in these water control zones, EPD has the authority to issue licences and exemptions, and to monitor compliance with the licence conditions and exemption limits. Conditions include controls on the type of discharge, the quantities of polluting substances allowed, discharge locations and treatment requirements. In each WCZ, most new discharges of industrial effluents have to be licensed, as well as domestic wastewaters which are not discharged to a public sewer provided for the purpose.

Unfortunately the legislation allows discharges which exist on the day a WCZ is declared, and which meet certain conditions, to continue without a licence. They may increase by up to 30 per cent above the discharge level at the time the zone was declared. This has meant that the impact of the declaration of the WCZS has been less than that needed to restore the minimum acceptable environmental quality in some areas. The government is now developing a package of measures which, when adopted, will make sure the ordinance achieves its original purpose.

Water quality is further safeguarded by the enforcement of the Dumping at Sea Act 1974 (Overseas Territories) Order 1975. Under this act, anyone who wishes to dump dredged marine spoils or excavated mud unsuitable for reclamation purposes must first obtain a licence from the Director of Environmental Protection. The spoil may then be dumped in designated areas.

Endowed with a deep harbour, Hong Kong is frequented by vessels ranging from small lighters to large ocean-going ships. In order to protect the waters from discharges from