MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL-POLLUTION IN HONG-KONG - TRENDS AND PROSPECTS

Located at the SE of China, with 1092 km(2) land area and 6.5x10(6) in habitants, Hong Kong (HK), with a current GDP per capita of US$ 23 019 and a life expectancy of 78.7 year can be considered a fully economic ally developed region. The widespread environmental pollution resultin g from burgeoning industrial development during the 1970s remained unc hecked until the start of control legislation in 1981, with a ten-year strategy put forward by the Government in 1989. Environmental monitor ing results and methods of control of water and air pollution are repo rted in this article, together with the waste treatment and disposal s trategies. Weak enforcement of environmental legislation has occurred at a time when massive infrastructural projects and construction activ ities are in progress so that environmental protection lags behind eco nomic growth.