ENG-1989 — Page 397

THE ENVIRONMENT

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Kok incinerator have resulted in a significant improvement to air quality, it was decided that the most satisfactory solution was to replace it with a transfer station.

The first transfer station is being constructed at Kowloon Bay. The facility has a capacity to handle 1 800 tonnes of mainly domestic refuse each day. This transfer station will be built to the highest environmental standards and waste will be conveyed to landfill in enclosed containers. When the Kowloon Bay transfer station is commissioned in spring 1990, both the Lai Chi Kok incinerator and the Jordan Valley Landfill, which is the last urban landfill, will be closed.

Planning has begun on a second transfer station to be located on Hong Kong Island. This station will be located at the site currently occupied by the Chai Wan Composting Plant, which will be demolished in 1991. The government will be calling for tenders for the design, construction and operation of this transfer station in early 1990. When the station is completed in 1992, the Kennedy Town incinerator, which continues to be an environ- mental nuisance despite the installation of electrostatic precipitators, will be closed. There are also plans for transfer stations in the western part of Hong Kong Island, the West Kowloon reclamation, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun/Yuen Long.

Chemical Wastes

Chemical wastes are a significant source of pollution. Over 100 000 tonnes of chemical waste were produced in 1989 and discharged into the environment via the sewerage and surface water drainage systems. It is intended to control the problem by introducing regulations under the Waste Disposal Ordinance which will enable EPD to exercise 'cradle-to-grave' control over these wastes. To facilitate the proper disposal of these, a chemical waste treatment centre will be developed on Tsing Yi Island. The plant will also serve as a Marpol reception facility for oily waste and noxious liquid substances. An international consortium, specialising in the treatment of chemical wastes, will be awarded a contract for the design, construction and operation of the plant, with a view to full commissioning in 1992.

Codisposal of chemical wastes with municipal or domestic wastes is carried out at the Junk Bay Landfill site, as well as on a more limited scale at the Pillar Point Valley Landfill under a permit system controlled by EPD. The main chemical wastes handled were chemical compounds from industrial production, and asbestos waste arising from building refurbishment and demolition. The permit system is expected to be replaced by regulations under the Waste Disposal Ordinance in 1990.

Monitoring and Investigations

Water Quality

The Environmental Protection Department is responsible for water quality monitoring in the sea, at beaches, and in rivers and streams. It runs a comprehensive programme which involves 66 general marine monitoring stations, 54 seabed sediment stations, 23 typhoon shelter stations, 118 sampling points at beaches, and 60 manual and six automatic sampling points on 10 priority rivers. In addition, special investigations are carried out for various purposes. The results of the monitoring programme are used to detect water pollution problems and to assess the water quality against a series of water quality objectives.

Generally, water quality in Hong Kong's open marine waters is good. However, pollution problems, exemplified in the form of either oxygen depletion, high bacterial counts or algal blooms exist in some parts of Victoria Harbour (Kowloon Bay, north-west