“Corbyn started his speech claiming that Labour’s position on Brexit has been consistent, by which he must mean consistently vague. And today was no different.
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The Council increased the restrictive measures against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) by finalising the transposition into EU law of the measures imposed by the latest UN Security Council resolution 2397 (2017).
The measures transposed today include:
The full prohibition on the export of crude oil provided for in resolution 2397 (2017) had already been introduced in the EU on 16 October 2017.
When it adopted the measures, the UN Security Council reaffirmed in its resolution 2397 (2017) that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constitute a threat to international peace and security. The EU has repeatedly expressed its expectation that the DPRK engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
The legal acts adopted today by the Council also took into account that 3 persons and one entity listed by the EU autonomously were now listed by the UN. The number of persons and entities under restrictive measures against the DPRK is 79 persons and 54 entities as listed by the UN and 55 persons and 9 entities designated by the EU autonomously.
The additional listings imposed by the UNSC resolution 2397 (2017) were transposed into EU law on 8 January 2018. The EU had added an additional 17 individuals to its own sanctions list on 22 January 2018.
The EU implements all UN Security Council resolutions adopted in response to the DPRK’s nuclear programmes and nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, and works to ensure their effective implementation by all UN states. In addition, the EU has imposed autonomous restrictive measures against the DPRK, complementing and reinforcing the UN sanctions regime.
Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Chen’s first visit to Hong Kong after his assumption of office as the Secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee. Noting that Hong Kong and Zhongshan enjoy close geographical and cultural ties and share a common language, she said that the two places have enjoyed frequent co-operation and exchanges in areas including economic affairs and trade, investment and culture over the years. Along with the completion of infrastructure projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express ​​Rail Link, the commuting time between Hong Kong and Zhongshan will be substantially shortened, further enhancing the connectivity between the two places.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Macao Special Administrative Region Government and the National Development and Reform Commission to draw up the Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area (Bay Area). Mrs Lam said that Hong Kong and Zhongshan, both of which are cities in the Bay Area, are looking forward to the new opportunities to be brought about by the development of the Bay Area. She said she believes that the development of the Bay Area is set to foster the increased flow of people, goods, capital and information among the cities in the area, which will deepen co-operation between Hong Kong and Zhongshan in various areas, enabling them to complement each other for mutual benefits.
Tests carried out by the Environment Agency on the water quality of numerous ponds in Shipley Country Park have revealed the water has now returned to a safe drinking water quality and signs to stay out of the 2 affected ponds have now been removed.
Drinking water quality does not mean it is recommended to drink the pond water; it means the concentrations of cyanide currently monitored are below these standards.
Environment Agency officers have continued to investigate and monitor the impact on the local environment of an accidental spillage of around 400 litres of liquid cyanide from a lorry delivering to an industrial unit in Heanor on Tuesday 6 February, some of which leaked into the nearby Adam’s Pond.
Since the incident occurred, the Environment Agency has been regularly collecting samples from numerous ponds on the site and sharing the results with Derbyshire County Council, which owns the park, and Public Health England. The results have determined what actions were required to minimise the impact of the contaminants in the watercourse and ponds.
Greg Oakes, Area Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:
Samples have regularly been taken to monitor the cyanide levels in the water and the results of the latest samples show the water is now at a drinking water quality, which is an excellent result. However, we would stress, drinking water standards does not mean we would recommend drinking the pond water, it is just that the concentrations of cyanide currently monitored are below these standards.
Our officers have been working to minimise the effects of the spillage on the environment and wildlife in the area. The contamination was largely contained to Adam’s Pond, which unfortunately resulted in a number of dead fish being found in the pond but, due to the level of contamination, our staff were unable to enter the water to carry out a netting activity to capture them. Whilst our monitoring showed there was some discharge to the nearby Osbourne’s pond, this did not result in any dead fish being found there.
We placed bags of activated carbon downstream of Osbourne’s pond to help filter cyanide out of the water and prevent it from leaking down the watercourse into the further ponds but the best course of action, minimising risk to people and the environment, was to wait for it to break down naturally.
In light of the latest results, rather than continuing with monitoring on site, we will now put a recovery plan in place. Adam’s Pond is still closed to fishing to allow the water life to recover and the Environment Agency will meet with the county council and the local fishing club next month to discuss a management plan for the pond.
We will also be investigating the source of the pollution and take appropriate action against those found to be responsible.
A report by the Environment Agency’s National Centre for Environmental Toxicology confirmed there was no significant risk to other wildlife which may have eaten dead fish from Adam’s Pond.
Shipley Country Park has remained open and safe to use following the chemical spillage incident but visitors to the park were advised by Derbyshire County Council not to enter the water or let their dogs enter the water in Adam’s Pond and Osborne’s Pond.
Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said:
Shipley is a much-loved park and the damage caused to Adam’s Pond is extremely distressing. But we’re relieved that there appears to have been no damage to Osborne’s Pond and pleased that the water in both ponds has now returned to safe drinking water quality.
This must not be allowed to happen again and we’re pleased there will be an investigation and action taken against those responsible to send a clear message to businesses that they need to take their environmental responsibilities seriously.
The Environment Agency plans to visit businesses on the industrial estate next to the park to identify any potential pollution risks. We’re grateful for any help and advice they can give about measures businesses can put in place to prevent further incidents like this happening at the park in the future.
Environment Agency staff work 24/7 to protect people and wildlife from pollution incidents. If you see pollution in your local river or watercourse, please call their incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting on Wednesday (February 28) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. The Government has advised the Clerk to LegCo that the Financial Secretary intends to present the Appropriation Bill 2018 and the Estimates for the year ending 31 March 2019 to the Council. When moving the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill 2018, the Financial Secretary will outline the 2018-19 Budget.
On Member’s motion, Ms Alice Mak will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending the Hospital Authority Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 1) Order 2018 laid on the table of the Council on February 7, 2018 to the meeting of March 28, 2018.
During the meeting, Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, all of which require written replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Please note that the agenda is subject to change, and the latest information about the agenda could be found on the LegCo Website.
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. They may reserve seats by calling 3919 3399 during office hours. Members of the public can also watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website.