New exercise will be used to shape government policies in three areas
Public views on sustainable strategies for waste management, renewable energy use and urban living space are being sought in an unprecedented consultation exercise launched yesterday.
The Council for Sustainable Development issued a document titled 'Making choices for our futures' to seek public opinion to help shape government policies.
Unlike other government proposals, the council, a government-backed advisory body, said the document offered no preferred options and its findings would depend on what the community valued. A report will be prepared by the council and submitted to relevant policy bureaus, which will be responsible for formulating detailed policies based on the public view.
Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, who chairs the council, vowed yesterday to carry out the wishes of the public.
'I am here to pledge that I and the council members will carefully listen to all the responses, and implement what they choose,' he said at the launching ceremony. Council vice-chairman Edgar Cheng Wai-kin said it was uncertain how the experimental process would work in practice. 'The process is in many ways more important than the three areas [covered],' he said.