ENG-1991 — Page 416

THE ENVIRONMENT

(MARPOL Convention). It stipulates the minimum on-board requirements for ocean- going and local vessels to prevent pollution discharges. These controls are now covered under The Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance 1990 and were first enforced in 1991.

Waste Management

The Waste Disposal Ordinance provides the statutory framework for the management of all wastes. The ordinance was amended in 1991 to provide the necessary powers for the introduction of controls on chemical waste.

The Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulations and the Waste Disposal (Appeal Board) Regulations are expected to be enacted early in 1992. These regulations empower the government to exercise 'cradle-to-grave' control on chemical wastes from their point of production to the point of disposal. Under the regulations, chemical waste producers are required to be registered with the disposal authority and chemical waste must be treated and disposed of at licensed facilities. The collection and transport of chemical waste must be carried out by licensed collectors. The regulations impose also statutory requirements for the packaging, labelling and storage of waste, to safeguard public health and minimise risk to the environment. The regulations will be implemented in phases in 1992–3, and will take full effect when the Chemical Waste Treatment Facilities are commissioned early in 1993.

To tackle the problem of pollution of inland water by livestock waste, the Livestock Waste Control Scheme was extended to all control areas under Phase I and three of the control areas under Phase II, covering over 70 per cent of livestock farms in Hong Kong. The scheme has so far brought about some improvement to the previously heavily-polluted inland waters. Beaches in the Phase I control areas that were once closed have been re-opened.

A major review of the control scheme was conducted and a revised scheme based on licensing control formulated, taking account of the findings and recommendations of a Private Farm Demonstration Project and the views of the farmers. Preparatory work has begun for introducing necessary amendments to the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Waste Disposal (Livestock Waste) Regulations to enable more effective control to be implemented in 1992.

To assist farmers in complying with the regulatory controls, financial assistance in the form of capital grants and loans is provided for installation of waste treatment facilities. Ex-gratia allowance is offered to those who opt to cease business.

An additional livestock waste consolidation plant was commissioned in October 1991 at Sha Ling to provide necessary facilities for the treatment and disposal of collected waste. During the

year, 2 300 tonnes of solid livestock waste were collected and composted for use as organic fertiliser.

Air Pollution Aerial pollutants from stationary sources are controlled under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) which empowers the Governor in Council, after consultation with the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee (EPCOM), to declare any parts of Hong Kong as Air Control Zones (ACZS). The ordinance was amended in 1991 to cover vehicle emissions. Altogether 10 ACZs covering the whole territory of Hong Kong have been

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