Environmental Protection Attempts in the Early Days …
111
local governments held several meetings to study the issue of pollution control.
At the National Planning Conference in 1971 and 1972, the Chinese government proposed to step up industrial pollution prevention and control. From
December 16, 1970 to February 19, 1971, the National Planning Meeting for the
year of 1971 convened by the State Council specifically discussed the management of industrial waste and safe recycling of hazardous industrial waste. New
projects must take proper measures to safely recycle and dispose of industrial waste. Projects under construction should also take proper measures. At
this meeting, Zhou Enlai emphasized the necessity to recycle industrial waste.
At the 1972 National Planning Conference held by the State Council from
December 16, 1971 to February 12, 1972, the Chinese government proposed
that waste recycling should be put on the agenda and effective measures should
be taken to avoid unnecessary waste and eliminate public health hazards. In
addition, the central government also held a series of conferences to study the
issue of pollution control. In April 1972, the State Construction Commission
and the State Planning Commission held a chimney dust removal meeting in
Shanghai. In December 1972, the State Construction Commission entrusted
the Institute of Building Research with job of organizing the Meeting on the
Treatment and Reuse of Wastewater Containing Phenol and Phenolic Derivatives. From February to March 1973, the Ministry of Light Industries also
successively convened the Symposium on Treatment of Wastewater of Printing
and Dyeing Industries and the Symposium on Treatment of Wastewater of
the Leather Industry. Propelled by the central government, many provincial
and municipal governments also held meetings to convey the message of the
above-mentioned meetings. These environmental protection meetings played
an important role in forcing Chinese people to recognize the seriousness of
environmental pollution and the importance of environmental protection, and
in promoting the implementation of environmental protection measures.
(4) Both the central government and local governments carried out extensive
pollution investigations. During this period, both the central government and
local governments carried out extensive pollution investigations, reflecting an
increase in the Chinese government’s attention to environmental issues. At the
level of the central government, in order to collect data on industrial pollution in the country, the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of
Health issued the 4th Five-Year Plan for National Health Service (1971–1975)
(Draft) on February 7, 1971 according to Zhou Enlai’s instructions, requiring
that all local governments investigate air and water pollution caused by industrial waste in the region within one or two years and collect data on harmful
substances, pollution levels, etc., and that the health sector should assist the
industrial sector in treatment and recycling of industrial waste. For the first
time, the central government decided to carry out nationwide industrial pollution surveys. On February 12, the Main Points of Health Work Plan in 1971
(Draft) issued by the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of
Health reiterated the above requirements. On April 27, the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of Health issued the Notice on Investigation
111
local governments held several meetings to study the issue of pollution control.
At the National Planning Conference in 1971 and 1972, the Chinese government proposed to step up industrial pollution prevention and control. From
December 16, 1970 to February 19, 1971, the National Planning Meeting for the
year of 1971 convened by the State Council specifically discussed the management of industrial waste and safe recycling of hazardous industrial waste. New
projects must take proper measures to safely recycle and dispose of industrial waste. Projects under construction should also take proper measures. At
this meeting, Zhou Enlai emphasized the necessity to recycle industrial waste.
At the 1972 National Planning Conference held by the State Council from
December 16, 1971 to February 12, 1972, the Chinese government proposed
that waste recycling should be put on the agenda and effective measures should
be taken to avoid unnecessary waste and eliminate public health hazards. In
addition, the central government also held a series of conferences to study the
issue of pollution control. In April 1972, the State Construction Commission
and the State Planning Commission held a chimney dust removal meeting in
Shanghai. In December 1972, the State Construction Commission entrusted
the Institute of Building Research with job of organizing the Meeting on the
Treatment and Reuse of Wastewater Containing Phenol and Phenolic Derivatives. From February to March 1973, the Ministry of Light Industries also
successively convened the Symposium on Treatment of Wastewater of Printing
and Dyeing Industries and the Symposium on Treatment of Wastewater of
the Leather Industry. Propelled by the central government, many provincial
and municipal governments also held meetings to convey the message of the
above-mentioned meetings. These environmental protection meetings played
an important role in forcing Chinese people to recognize the seriousness of
environmental pollution and the importance of environmental protection, and
in promoting the implementation of environmental protection measures.
(4) Both the central government and local governments carried out extensive
pollution investigations. During this period, both the central government and
local governments carried out extensive pollution investigations, reflecting an
increase in the Chinese government’s attention to environmental issues. At the
level of the central government, in order to collect data on industrial pollution in the country, the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of
Health issued the 4th Five-Year Plan for National Health Service (1971–1975)
(Draft) on February 7, 1971 according to Zhou Enlai’s instructions, requiring
that all local governments investigate air and water pollution caused by industrial waste in the region within one or two years and collect data on harmful
substances, pollution levels, etc., and that the health sector should assist the
industrial sector in treatment and recycling of industrial waste. For the first
time, the central government decided to carry out nationwide industrial pollution surveys. On February 12, the Main Points of Health Work Plan in 1971
(Draft) issued by the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of
Health reiterated the above requirements. On April 27, the Military Management Commission of the Ministry of Health issued the Notice on Investigation