Despite wide media coverage and promotion materials, Robert Young, Shell Hong Kong and Macau area director, acknowledged that changing people's wasteful habits would not be easy.

'We have to educate drivers that this is not a good way to behave and get across the message that bad driving habits seriously deteriorate air quality and waste fuel,' Mr Young said.

There is a growing concern about the seriousness of air pollution in Hong Kong.

In fact, recent Government predictions suggest air quality will decline by 50 per cent by 2005 from levels that existed in 1995.

Mr Young said as a fuel company, Shell took its responsibilities seriously and regarded environmental objectives as an integral part of its business.

The company regularly carried out environmental audits at all of its company depots and retail outlets to monitor waste disposal, soil protection, oil spillage and aerial emission.

Mr Young said sustainable development meant development that met the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

'To achieve our goal of sustainable development, we will try our best to manage the environment and place emphasis on the management of products during their consuming period,' he said.

'There is no indication that fossil fuels are going to run out in the immediate future but, with a concerted effort and co- operation, we can make our world a better, cleaner and more pleasant place for ourselves and future generations to live in.'