Jacket and tie not required in clean-air drive
The government will push civil servants to dispense with jackets and ties - a 'small step' to encourage the public to become involved in cleaning the air, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen told the Legislative Council yesterday.
During a question-and-answer session, Mr Tsang said air conditioners accounted for about a third of Hong Kong's total electricity consumption and a setting of a mere 3 degrees Celsius warmer would save $900 million and cut the emission of air pollutants by thousands of tonnes a year.
The campaign to dress casually in a warmer workplace will complement an energy-conservation programme that calls for setting air conditioners at 25.5 degrees.
The Civil Service Bureau last night issued a special reminder to the government's 160,000-strong workforce urging them to discard jackets and ties.
'[The bureau] will encourage them to go to work in casual but appropriate attire,' Mr Tsang said.
He also said the government would endorse the private sector's Clean Air Charter. More than 300 companies have already signed that pledge to take voluntary action to minimise pollution.
'We hope the government's active support will encourage more companies to join us in combating air pollution by signing up to the charter,' said David Eldon, chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.
Mr Tsang said the government would require power plants to clean up emissions and would impose penalties on those that exceeded limits required by the scheme of control.
'A societal consensus based on informed debates is necessary before implementing any aggressive measures. At this stage, we should take every small step to support the clean-air initiatives in our daily lives,' Mr Tsang said.
He stressed the need to mobilise the public to help cut air pollution and said the Environmental Protection Department would launch a publicity campaign this month promoting energy conservation.
The Friends of the Earth welcomed the campaign to dress casually but said its success hinged on Mr Tsang's determination to 'liberate himself from his bow tie'.
The Conservancy Association said the dress code for all government and advisory board meetings should be casual.
