ENG-1996 — Page 473

24 THE ENVIRONMENT

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SINCE the publication of its first White Paper on the environment in 1989, the Hong Kong Government has moved rapidly and invested large sums of money to correct past environmental abuses and prevent future abuse. The territory's environmental problems are common to most developed communities. Its rapid growth of population, industry and commerce remain at the root of pollution by human activities.

Government spending on the environment in 1996-97 is expected to make up 3.1 per cent of public spending, totalling $7.08 billion, compared with 0.8 per cent in 1988-89. All areas in Hong Kong are now covered by various Water Control Zones and other measures controlling waste, air and noise pollution.

A $9.4 billion programme of sewerage improvement schemes should be com- missioned in 1997. It is designed to help clean up Victoria Harbour, where up to 70 per cent of the territory's sewage is discharged untreated, and to improve sewage services in other areas. With the commissioning of the last strategic landfill in 1995, all three new strategic landfills are now in operation. They will be served by a network of refuse transfer stations, three of which are already operational. Provision of these essential waste management facilities marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Waste Disposal Plan, which was published in 1989.

Under the 'polluter pays' principle, schemes to charge for the treatment and disposal of sewage and chemical wastes were introduced in 1995.

To abate air pollution, measures were introduced to adopt more stringent vehicle emission controls in line with international standards and to prohibit open burning activities. As part of a global programme, 89 ozone-depleting substances were put under legislative control.

New legislation to control noise emissions from newly registered motor vehicles and motor cycles came into operation in August 1996. The control will enable Hong Kong to keep up with international standards, and will help to alleviate road traffic noise problems. Tightened control on noise from construction work in populated areas was also implemented in November 1996. The control bans all noisy construction activities in built-up areas at night and during holidays.

The government and a private organisation launched parallel green funds, totalling $100 million, to fund educational, research and community action projects and activities which will benefit the environment of Hong Kong, increase public environmental awareness and mobilise the community to act for the environment.

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