IN the Honourable Ms Christine Loh's letter of the November 18, headlined, ''The public's right to know'', she inquires what procedures there are for informing the public on pollution testing samples and how this information can be accessed readily.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) devotes considerable effort to making public the results of its pollution testing activities.
Detailed information on air quality is released to the media every month and on beach water quality every two weeks during the bathing season.
Work is at an advanced stage to provide a daily index of air pollution levels and a daily forecast of air quality.
In addition, regular reports are published on, for example, river and marine water quality, waste arisings and details of prosecutions. Environmental Impact Assessments carried out under the department's direction are available to the public and a comprehensive and detailed description of all environmental work carried out by the Government is published annually.
The department works on the principle that it should make available any information it obtains subject to commercial confidentiality, restrictions imposed by the ordinances and the extent of the resources needed to retrieve the information. We are currently exploring ways that would make it possible to increase the amount of information we are able to make available in a cost effective manner.