Pr. Holmes, EFFLUENT CONTROL - THE HONG-KONG APPROACH, Journal of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, 10(3), 1996, pp. 199-204
Water pollution has existed for many years in Hong Kong, but the Gover
nment's strategy for pollution control is now beginning to take effect
. The strategy includes planning legislation, and the provision of sew
age-disposal systems. In the past, the main thrust has been against tr
aditional pollutants measured by BOD, suspended solids and various nut
rients, but as these are brought under control, attention will be give
n to the need to control toxic pollutants. The existing policy and leg
islation does not deal with toxic pollutants well, and past work on to
xic substances in Hong;Kong has concentrated on individual chemicals.
The Environmental Protection Department is now seeking to (a) develop
ecotoxicological expertise to identify toxicant pathways in the enviro
nment, (b) introduce mater-quality objectives for toxic substances whi
ch it can monitor effectively and (c) improve standards for effluent c
ontrol.