The Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Gordon Siu, said Hong Kong is working towards becoming a world-class city with a pleasant and healthy living environment.
Speaking at a press conference today (Friday), Mr Siu said the measures unveiled by the Chief Executive to tackle various sources of pollution underlined the Government's commitment to setting the territory on the track of sustainable development.
"Sustainable development is about people and about partnership," Mr Siu said.
"Creating a clean environment requires creative, constructive partnerships: it isn't going to come just by Government regulation, Government expenditure, Government action," he said.
The SAR Government will work towards sustainable development on all fronts.
"We will clean up our air, water and harbour. We will reduce waste. We shall renew our urban fabric through a fast-tracked, dedicated programme of urban renewal. We shall design new towns which are entirely environmentally friendly.
"We shall work with Guangdong to create a better environment for the entire Pearl River Delta region and we will work with all groups in the community to achieve those objectives. We welcome their ideas," he said.
He emphasized that sustainable development was not simply about the environment.
"Equally important is giving people jobs, homes and good education," he said.
"But we have to make sure that the way we create economic growth and social progress does not degrade the environment, because that will damage our economic prospects and damage the health of the whole community."
Elaborating on the air quality improvement initiatives, Mr Siu said upon implementation the general public would see by 2005 a significant reduction in vehicle emissions of respirable particulate by 80 per cent, and nitrogen oxide by 30 per cent.
Comprehensive control will be imposed on diesel vehicles, including the replacement of diesel taxies and public light buses with liquefied petroleum gas vehicles, instalment of particulate traps or catalytic converters for vehicles which do not comply with the stringent Euro standards.
"Subject to Legco approval, a total of $1.4 billion would be provided as grants to owners of taxies, light buses and other pre-Euro standard diesel vehicles to encourage them to make the switch," Mr Siu said.
On water pollution, Mr Siu said Stages II, III and IV of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme, originally scheduled to be completed by 2008, will be comprehensively reviewed by an international team of experts. Professional institutions would be invited to contribute ideas and the review will be conducted openly.
As for waste reduction, Mr Siu said measures had been taken with a view to doubling the overall rate of municipal waste reduction, reuse and recycling by 2007.
"To dispose of the growing volumes of waste, we will be consulting the community on proposals for new waste management facilities, including waste-to-energy incinerators that meet the highest environmental and health standards," he said.
Mr Siu said that extensive work had been done in recent years to build up understanding of Hong Kong's natural environment. This would be used to prepare a comprehensive conservation policy. He also welcomed the expansion of country parks on Lantau, and the improved management of the country parks for recreation and conservation purposes.
Mr Siu emphasised the importance of working together with the mainland in solving Hong Kong's environmental problems, adding that six key areas for cooperation had been identified.
These include a joint study on regional air quality, feasibility of common standards for diesel fuels, forestry conservation, improvement of water quality, exchange of data on the water quality in the Pearl River Delta Region and assessment of environmental impact of town planning and development.
He said a joint working group with the Guangdong authorities to coordinate mutual efforts in these areas will be set up under the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference.
End/Friday, October 8, 1999
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