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Controlling
Water Pollution
Water
pollution is a long-standing problem in Hong Kong. Rivers, streams,
bays and marine waters have all been affected by sewage, industrial
effluent and livestock waste. Various programmes are in place to
control the problem. In 2001, two issues were dominant: the Harbour
Area Treatment Scheme (HATS), which has been a subject of public
debate over the type of treatment to be used, and cross-border co-operation
with authorities in Guangdong.
Water
Quality in 2001
Water
quality is monitored in marine waters, rivers and streams, and beaches.
For marine waters, the overall percentage compliance with the Water
Quality Objectives in 2001 was 79% which was similar to the average
figure in the past ten years. For rivers and streams, the figure
was 83 per cent as against 82 per cent in 2000 - although much progress
has been made over the last decade, it is proving very difficult
to remove the residual pollution. Beach water quality showed a slight
decline, probably due to heavy rains in the summer. Five of the
41 gazetted beaches were graded poor in 2001 and two were very poor,
as against six poor in 2000 and none very poor. From 2001, three
beaches - Clear Water Bay Second Beach, Deep Water Bay Beach and
Golden Beach - were open year-round. The EPD started monitoring
them weekly even in the winter months and grading them year-round.
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