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The Government will publish in the Gazette on Friday (May 29) the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Order 2009 to bring Hong Kong into compliance with the additional requirements under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The order is to include bromochloromethane (BCM) as a new scheduled substance for banning its import, production and use under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance.
A spokesman for the Environment Bureau said today (May 27) that the amendment was another step by Hong Kong to help restore the ozone layer, which protected all life on earth against harmful ultraviolet radiation.
To ensure earlier recovery of the ozone layer, the 11th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in 1999 had added BCM as an ozone layer depleting substance to be controlled under the Protocol.
"In addition to the inclusion of BCM, the order also amends the Schedule to the OLPO to make it clear that a scheduled substance includes the isomers of that substance; and to change the Chinese terms of certain scheduled substances to conform to the version used by the United Nations," he said.
All registered importers and exporters of the scheduled substances have been consulted on the proposal. They do not have any problem complying with the proposal.
The order will be tabled on June 3 at the Legislative Council for negative vetting. If approved, it will take effect on October 1.
Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:00
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