ENG-1990 — Page 422

THE ENVIRONMENT

To tackle the problem of pollution of inland water by livestock wastes, controls provided in the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 1987 and subsidiary regulations in 1988 continued to be progressively enforced. By the end of 1990, the Livestock Waste Control Scheme was implemented in all areas under Phase I of the three phases of the scheme. This has brought about substantial improvement to the previously heavily-polluted inland waters. Beaches in Phase I control areas that were once closed were re-opened. A major review of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme is being carried out before the scheme is further implemented.

In order to assist farmers in complying with the regulatory controls, financial assistance in the form of capital grants and loans was provided for the installation of waste treatment facilities and technical advice offered upon request. A livestock waste collection service was provided by the government to the farmers in areas under control. Over 31 000 tonnes of solid livestock waste were collected and composted for use as organic fertiliser.

Air Pollution

Air pollution problems from stationary sources have been a growing public concern in the past few years. The Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) was enacted in 1983 to control pollutant emissions from stationary sources and the ordinance empowers the Governor in Council, after consultation with the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee, to declare any parts of Hong Kong as Air Control Zones (ACZs). Altogether 10 ACZs have been declared, two in 1986 and the remaining eight in 1989, covering the whole territory of Hong Kong. Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) for these zones, with respect to seven major air pollutants, were gazetted in January 1987 and apply to all ACZS. The ordinance also provides for the Director of Environmental Protection to issue notices requiring the abatement of air pollutant nuisances, modification or repair of chimneys or relevant plants, prohibition of the use of unsuitable fuels, or provision of information. During the year, 255 such notices were served.

The Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations were enacted in January 1989 to restrict the use of fuel containing more than one per cent by weight of sulphur in the eastern part of the New Territories, with the exception of Sha Tin where only gaseous fuels are allowed. Since sulphur-containing fuel is widely used in the territory, sulphur dioxide problems in other parts of the territory remained serious. To solve the territory-wide sulphur dioxide problems, new regulations were enacted in January and implemented in July 1990 to limit the sulphur content of liquid fuel to 0.5 per cent by weight while allowing only gaseous fuels to be used in Sha Tin. Since the regulations came into force, a dramatic drop in sulphur dioxide levels has been recorded. The regulations also impose a require- ment on the viscosity of liquid fuel which has brought about a significant reduction in particulate and nitrogen dioxide emissions.

The Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations were enacted in October 1987. These regulations operate in conjunction with the relevant provisions of the APCO and provide control of certain industrial processes called 'specified processes' which may cause serious air pollution. However, most of the specified processes which existed before October 2, 1987 were exempted from this licensing requirement provided that EPD has been notified of their existence. In the year, there were 27 licences and 106 exemptions in force. As the exempted premises are not obliged to use the best practicable means to control the emission of air pollutants, they continue to cause some air pollution problems.

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