ENG-1992 — Page 409

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THE ENVIRONMENT

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WHAT is the environment? Simply, that which surrounds us -- the solid earth, the sea, the air, the plants and animals that live on the earth and in the sea and the things that man has built. Like all species, we depend entirely on our environment for survival.

This chapter is a review of the state of Hong Kong's environment in 1992. Some things change little from year to year. Our topography and geology, for example, and the hydro- graphy of our seas, although our knowledge of these permanent features does develop. Other things change almost from minute to minute, so this chapter records both the climate and the weather we experienced in 1992.

Despite the steady progress of Hong Kong's urbanisation, we still have many species of plant and animal life on the land and in the water. Protection of both habitat and species is an important part of our environmental conservation activities.

Pollution by human activity is potentially one of the greatest threats to the environment. It is in the area of pollution control that Hong Kong's commitment to conservation is at its most active, and there are many highlights to record.

Without doubt, one of the highlights of 1992 was when a group of members of Hong Kong Conservancy Association attended the United Nations conference on the environment in Rio de Janeiro. It will be for future years to judge the global benefits of the conference, but conservation in Hong Kong has taken a clear step forward in maturity as a result of participation.

At home, sound if more prosaic progress continued. Important new laws came into force: controls on the handling and disposal of chemical waste; extension of the Water Pollution Control Ordinance to a new control zone that includes the new airport site at Chek Lap Kok; new regulations on vehicle design standards that impose emission limits comparable to the most stringent standards in the world; new noise regulations that tighten controls on specific construction equipment; and a review of the livestock waste control programme leading to more effective controls on these noxious organic pollutants.

The development of better sewage and solid waste disposal facilities made significant advances. Sewerage master plan studies were completed for Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi, North West Kowloon, Yuen Long and Kam Tin, Central, Western and Wan Chai West. The Drainage Services Department has now begun to implement these plans.

A new refuse transfer station, serving Hong Kong Island East, was commissioned in November 1992. This is an important step in the government's waste disposal strategy.