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The following is issued on behalf of the Advisory Council on the Environment:

The Government released a consultation document on the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2 on June 21, 2004, to gauge public views on the way forward. The Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) will hold a special meeting on September 6 to have in-depth discussions with the relevant academics and green groups on the subject, in particular the various technical issues involved. Members of the public are welcome to join the meeting.

The ACE chairman, Professor Lam Kin-che, and other ACE members, will mainly exchange views on the following issues with the academics/experts and representatives of green groups invited to attend the meeting:

* Centralisation vs decentralisation

* Two-phase implementation approach

* Acceptability of chlorination disinfection

* Choice of biological treatment technology

* Needs for nutrient removal

* Sludge handling

The meeting will start at 2.30pm in the Conference Room, 1st floor, Central Government Offices New Annex, Lower Albert Road, Central. Prior registration is required. For those who would like to join the meeting, please call the ACE Secretariat for reservation on tel: 2136 3270 during office hours starting from tomorrow (August 19).

Ends/Wednesday, August 18, 2004

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