HONG KONG

Environmentseems to be a low priority forHong Kong. Even as itseconomy prospers with littlegovernment interference,years of neglect of the environment are leaving visiblescars. one of the worst problerns is contaminated seawater. Hong Kong dumpstwo minion tormes of sewageand industrial effluents intothe sea every day, half of itentirely untreated. Solidwaste is disposed off in thelandf&, some of which arein the middle of urban areaswhere they release gases andleachates, products of thedecomposition of organicwaste. Taking steps to curbsome environmental problems, the government is tobuild a new sewerage systemthroughout the territory overthe next 10 years at a totalcost of about US $1,16 billion,It has also announced aStrategic Sewage DisposalScheme, the first phase ofwhich aims to improve thewater quality of Hong Kongharbour by 1997, when theBritish colony reverts toChinese rule.(IPS)