ENG-2000 — Page 348

THE ENVIRONMENT

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Ordinance. These operations follow the requirements of the London Convention on marine dumping.

Marine dumping permits only permit operations carried out by a vessel equipped with an automatic self-monitoring device. This device tracks all marine dumping operations by recording the position and draught of the vessel, so that the authorities. can trace any illegal dumping in a cost-effective manner. Moreover, the department's inspectors operate frequent patrols. There were three convictions for illegal dumping

offences in 2000.

Monitoring and Investigations

The assessment of progress towards policy goals is one of the EPD's key activities. Its routine monitoring and special investigations form the basis for much of the strategic planning, provision of facilities and statutory controls aimed at improving the environment. The department has 93 sampling stations in the marine waters including enclosed bays and typhoon shelters plus another 82 stations for inland waters. It also keeps 41 bathing beaches under surveillance.

This monitoring began in 1972 and provides a comprehensive record of the chemical, physical and microbiological quality of Hong Kong's waters. All data are published regularly in the form of annual reports and can be made available to academics and professionals in digital files or printed copies. Information on beach, marine and river water quality is available on the EPD's home page. Members of the public are usually more interested in the latest water quality of bathing beaches, details of which are issued to the mass media and published in the department's home page every week during the bathing season.

Mathematical models are frequently used to assess the water quality impact of major development activities. They have also been employed to predict long-term cumulative impacts on water quality from development projects such as those around Deep Bay area. Recently, the Government has updated the model and assessed the cumulative impacts of development proposals from 1987 to 2012 on water flow and water quality. These models will continue to provide valuable information for environmental planning.

The EPD operates 11 general and three roadside air-quality monitoring stations. These stations have continuous monitoring instruments that measure sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, photochemical oxidants and carbon monoxide. Airborne dust and lead concentrations are also measured. Monitoring of toxic air pollutants at the Tsuen Wan and Central and Western districts began in mid-1997.

The department operates an air pollution index (API) report and forecast system to provide the community with the most updated air quality information. The system was enhanced in July 1999 to report the latest API every hour through mass media, the Internet and a 24-hour hotline. In addition, the department publishes in its home page a monthly summary of APIs.

The EPD also conducts annual survey on solid waste disposal in order to collect updated information for planning new waste disposal facilities.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory provides a comprehensive range of analytical and advisory services to government departments, supporting them in the management