Bulletin Number Two 1984

Pollution and Environmental Studies Environmental problems — air, water, solid waste, noise, occupational health and safety — and their control have attracted general interest in recent years. We have, in an attempt to examine these problems and their ramifications, invited the follow ing environmental scientists and other experts o f the University to share their views w ith us: Dr. Chan Kwong-yu Department o f Biology Dr. Chan Ying-keung Department o f Sociology Professor S.T. Chang Department o f Biology Mr. Peter K.N. Chen Department o f General Business Management and Personnel Management Dr. L.S. Chuang Department o f Physics Professor S.P.B. Donnan Department o f Community Medicine Dr. S.L Hsu Department o f Geography Dr. Paul Kwong Department o f Sociology Dr. Lam Kin Che Department o f Geography Dr. O.W. Lau Department o f Chemistry Dr. Ken W.K. Liu Department o f Anatomy Dr. Peter Man Department o f Sociology Dr. K.K. Mark Department o f Biology Dr. T.C. Tan Department o f Community Medicine Dr. Susanna T.Y. Tong Department o f Geography Dr. M.H. Wong Department o f Biology What role do environm ental studies play in modern society? K .C Lam : Modern societies all over the world are increasingly harassed by pollution and other resource problems. Environmental Studies can help us to recognize, evaluate and analyse environmental issues o f current or likely future significance; and to contri bute to the formulation o f environmental policy and the development o f appropriate environmental management strategies. H ong K o n g is fa cin g various p o llu tio n problems. Could y o u enlighten us on h ow serious these problem s are and h ow they are a ffected by the rap id in d u s tria li zation and urbanization o f H ong Kong? P. M an: By all accounts, we have our share o f environ­ mental problems in Hong Kong. But we do not know for sure how serious these problems are. We know, from various reports, that our rivers and beaches are polluted, that our air is foul in the urban areas (and increasingly so in the New Towns), that noise levels under our flight path are becoming more and more unbearable, that highly caustic fumes are destroying vital electronic equipments at Kai Tak A irport, that our oyster industry is being seriously affected by water pollution in Deep Bay, that our children are being affected by lead poisoning from motor vehicle exhaust, incinerators and power stations. But we lack information on their exact nature. While rapid urbanization and industrialization have contributed their share to environmental pollution, our laissez-faire economic policy and the public's lack o f awareness are also responsible for our current state o f affairs. In the name o f economic development, the government has been too 'sym pathetic' to our polluting industries. A t the same time, the public is largely unaware o f the effects o f pollution, FORUM 9