§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy is being followed in Hong Kong with a view gradually to reduce pollution, including air and noise pollution.
§ Mr. EnnalsAs part of their comprehensive approach to environmental protection, the Hong Kong Government are preparing legislation to control all forms of pollution and examining proposals for the establishment of a central unit for environmental protection. Meanwhile, industrial pollution is controlled under the conditions of grants for industrial sites; and air pollution by means of the Clean Air Ordinance.
§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the expansion in new public housing in Hong Kong over the last five years and details of plans for the next two years.
§ Mr. EnnalsAbout 1.95 million people—44.6 per cent. of the population—were accommodated in public housing at the end of September 1975. Accommodation for some 481,000 people was built in the period 1971–72 to 1975–76. Production plans for the next two years are designed to accommodate about 220,000 people in public housing, mainly in new towns.
§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the prices paid by the population of Hong Kong for consumer goods and foodstuffs from China compare with world prices.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is not possible to make a direct comparison between the prices paid for Chinese goods and foodstuffs imported into Hong Kong and world prices for the same items, since statistics are not compiled on a uniform basis. The 27W indications are that the prices of Chinese goods and foodstuffs in Hong Kong tend to follow world prices.