The following can only be a brief introduction of the legal subject concerned. Before you take any action which may have legal consequence, you should first seek advice from your own lawyer or make an appointment at any District Office to see a volunteer lawyer of the Free Legal Advice Scheme.




(702) HOW TO COMPLY WITH WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE

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To protect the quality of our waters for beneficial uses, it is necessary to control polluting discharges into the waters.

The Water Pollution Control Ordinance is the main legislation for achieving such purpose. Under the Ordinance, the waters of Hong Kong are divided into ten water control zones. They include Tolo Harbour and Channel, Mirs Bay, Port Shelter, Junk Bay, Southern waters, North-western waters, Deep Bay, Eastern Buffer, Western Buffer and Victoria Harbour. Discharge of polluting matters into any of these zones is an offence.

Any person who wishes to discharge wastewater into the waters of Hong Kong should apply to the Director of Environmental Protection for a discharge licence. This requirement, however, does not apply to the discharge of domestic sewage into foul sewers.

Under the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation, the Authority may issue notice to require private lot owners to convey their wastewater to public sewers once new sewers become available in their area. It also provides for control over the operation and maintenance of private wastewater treatment facilities.

For more details, you may obtain an information booklet from any of the offices of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the District Offices and Sub-offices. Licence application forms are also available from these offices.

For enquiries, please contact the Local Control Offices or through the EPD's Customer Service Hotline of 2838 3111.

Date of amendment: 22nd February 2013