Copyright 1998 South China Morning Post Ltd.
South China Morning Post
April 14, 1998
SECTION: News; Pg. 3
LENGTH: 358 words
HEADLINE: Row simmers over algae's spread
BODY:
AUDREY PARWANI, NAOMI LEE and ALISON SMITH The row continued
yesterday over whether the devastation of the red tide could
have been better predicted or prevented.
Calling the algae spread the "worst natural disaster"
in living memory, acting assistant director for Agriculture and
Fisheries Joseph Sham Chun-hung said it was unavoidable.
But fishermen and campaigners said satellites could have been
used to watch the growth of the red tide from when it began
in March and to issue warnings.
"Firstly, what they should have done in March is to detect
the source," ousted Democrat legislator Dr John Tse Wing-ling
said. "The tide was detected as coming from the east so at
that stage Fisheries and Environmental Protection Department officers
should have made close connections with the mainland Government
to monitor the situation and take measures.
"(But they took) a passive approach. You cannot prevent
100 per cent loss but at least the loss would not be as disastrous
as now."
The criticisms were rejected by Mr Sham who said satellites
could not monitor movements and trends such as the red tide's
flow.
"This is a natural disaster. The worst in Hong Kong as
far as I can remember. I doubt if satellites could have monitored
it," he said.
"Satellites are used where the area is large. Hong Kong
is small."
Fishermen continued to increase their demands for compensation
from the Government yesterday.
Fish traders' representative Wong Yung-kun said almost all
of the SAR's fish farms were affected by the red tide, escalating
the cost to the industry to $ 120 million.
Increasing numbers of dead fish were found in Yung Shue O
and Tai Tau Chau in Sai Kung, as well as Yim Tin Tsai near Tolo
Harbour, he said.
Red tide is a generic term for micro-organisms called dinoflagellates,
that occur naturally in low wind, poor water aeration and temperatures
of about 25 degrees Celsius.
The algae - which varies in its colour and production of toxins
- is aggravated by organic pollution. Warm air and low wind are
forecast to continue, creating ideal conditions for the further
spread of red tide.
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
LOAD-DATE: April 14, 1998