PROGRESS IN COMBATING OIL POLLUTION IN CHINA SINCE 19901

Abstract

ABSTRACT China has made remarkable progress in oil pollution prevention and control during the past 20 years; most of these advances are summarized in a paper in the proceedings of the 1989 Oil Spill Conference. This paper introduces achievements in the same areas 5 years since that conference. It covers legislation and its implementation; equipment, materials, and methods of usage with some national characteristics; scientific studies carried out in various institutes and colleges; monitoring of oil spills on land, in ports, and at sea by the local National Environment Protection Agent (????), the Harbor Superin-tendency Administration (HSA), and the National Oceanographic Bureau (NOB), respectively; education, training, and information services; and international activities, including Chinese delegates performance dealing with Annex I: Prevention of Pollution by Oil of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (1973) as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78) of IMO. China must keep a balance between economic growth and pollution prevalency, a challenge compounded by a shortage of financial support.