'Polluter pays' a challenge, says Tsang
Waste-disposal charges, renewable energy targets and environmentally friendly building designs are among the key elements of Hong Kong's first sustainable development strategy unveiled yesterday.
But acting Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, also chairman of the Sustainable Development Council, admitted it would be a challenge to implement the blueprint successfully.
The strategy, focusing on waste management, renewable energy and urban planning, proposes 15 policy objectives and indicators to guide the city towards a sustainable future. It affirmed the importance of the 'polluter-pays' principle to help deal with mounting city waste. Legislation on the responsibilities of waste producers was also called for in the short term.
The strategy also proposes to have up to 2 per cent of electricity generated by renewable sources by 2012. But other measures, like opening grid access to renewable energy suppliers, were overridden by the current electricity market review.
On urban planning, the report proposed guidelines on urban redevelopment to protect old neighbourhoods and architectural heritage. But it was still undecided whether development focus should be shifted from urban areas to the New Territories.
Edgar Cheng Wai-kin, the council's vice-chairman, said the government was responsible for drawing and enforcing the policies. 'The real challenge ahead is for the government to accept and promise to implement the strategy,' he said at a conference to announce the plan.
Mr Tsang offered no pledges on the strategy as he made his last appearance before he is expected to announce his resignation from his government posts tomorrow.
'It is no easy task to strive for long-term and less apparent benefits for the next generations as we will encounter challenges to take care of economic effectiveness, social responsibilities and environmental protection at the same time,' he said.
Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung said the strategy was a 'living document' that would be updated regularly. The strategy was the outcome of a year-long public consultation involving 1,400 people which started in February last year. More than 1,900 submissions were received by the council.
Legislator Choy So-yuk, who is also a council member, criticised the targets in the strategy as 'over-conservative' and failing to reflect the stakeholders' views.
Otto Poon Lok-to, a council member, pledged to improve the process by widening stakeholder networks and allowing participants to choose priority areas.
Key points
Limit waste land-filling to no more than 25 per cent of total waste by 2014
Reduce city waste by 1 per cent a year until 2014
Increase the recycling rate to 45 per cent by 2009 and 50 per cent by 2014
Set a target of 1 to 2 per cent of electricity generated by renewable sources by 2012
Devise programmes to improve energy efficiency and conservation
Have a sustainable energy policy ready by 2007
Adopt guidelines for revitalisation of urban areas by next year under the Urban Renewal Strategy
Assess the impact of mandatory requirements for sustainable building designs by 2007
