ENG-1995 — Page 445

THE ENVIRONMENT

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Port Developments

Continuous growth in demand for port facilities has resulted in the need to develop new container terminals at north-east Lantau and to find sites for port back-up facilities. The preliminary designs of Container Terminals No. 10 and 11 and back-up areas for associated activities were completed and more detailed work had begun. Noise bunds and other mitigation measures such as using quiet equipment have been recommended to reduce the cumulative noise from the terminals.

Rural Developments

The government is committed to improving the quality of life in rural areas. Efforts are being made to terminate thousands of polluting short-term land uses. Village sewage improvement schemes have also been carried out in the rural areas of the New Territories.

A task force to clean up environmental blackspots in the New Territories was set up in 1994 to bring early and visible improvement to the most environmentally degraded areas. The initial focus is on the Pat Heung area. Particular attention is also being given to blackspots associated with container-related operations.

Hazardous Installations

In certain areas, the existence of potentially hazardous installations (PHIS), such as explosives depots and chemical stores, and dangerous goods (DG) transport routes may pose a risk to nearby residents. Hong Kong has had no major disasters but global experience of large-scale accidents highlights the need for risk management. Risk assessments have been completed on all major PHIS in the territory and planning studies concerning risk-mitigation measures and action plans in the event of accidents have been completed or are being implemented. These measures have substantially reduced the risk to the public. A similar approach is being extended to cover DG transport. Studies are in progress to develop a clear understanding of DG transport risks and identify risk-mitigation measures.

The Urban and Regional Services Departments have agreed to phase out con- ventional chlorine gas dosing systems for swimming pools. They are converting to smaller cylinders for chlorine in the interim and are gradually adopting other, safer sterilisation systems.

Legislation and Pollution Control

Hong Kong has six main pieces of legislation to control pollution. They are the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the Noise Control Ordinance, the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance and the Dumping At Sea Ordinance.

The government has adopted a system of environmental quality objectives set at levels that will protect conservation goals, such as the protection of public health or the preservation of a natural ecosystem. This system usually gives the required environmental benefit at the least cost. The limits it imposes on pollutant emissions are no more stringent or costly than is necessary to achieve the conservation goal. It also makes the maximum safe use of the environment's capacity to neutralise pollution.