Pollution, food waste and heavy traffic: what Hong Kong’s chief executive should focus on in 2016

Edwin Lau says Hongkongers shouldn’t hesitate to let Leung Chun-ying know what he can do to make Hong Kong a more liveable place

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Ahead of his policy address, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says he’s all ear. The question is, will he really implement the suggestions? Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 4:36pm, 28 Dec 2015Updated: 4:36pm, 28 Dec 2015

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s invitation to the public to contribute their views to his preparation for the upcoming policy address is a wonderful opportunity to suggest ways to make Hong Kong more liveable.

READ MORE: How China, the ‘world’s largest polluter’, is taking on climate change

Climate change is a pressing global challenge. At the UN climate summit in Paris, 20 countries including China and the US launched the Mission Innovation initiative with a collective commitment of US$20 billion to accelerate global clean energy innovation. So how much will the Leung administration commit to the climate challenge?

Here are some suggestions of what we can do:

● Vegetation targets. Hong Kong is fortunate to have a natural carbon sink in our country parks, as long as we don’t allow housing development to encroach on them. We should set targets for vegetation coverage in the country parks and throughout the city.

● Des Voeux Road Central. To improve air quality, congested Des Voeux Road Central should be turned into a vehicle-free zone, with water features to mitigate the concrete-jungle feel. This would persuade people to walk or take public transport, which is good for public health. Leung should learn from the South Korean government, which removed an elevated highway in Seoul’s city centre to revitalise the Cheonggyecheon stream, now an urban park.

Hong Kong produces 3,600 tonnes of food waste every day. Photo: K.Y Cheng

Pollution, food waste and heavy traffic: what Hong Kong’s chief executive should focus on in 2016

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Edwin Lau says Hongkongers shouldn’t hesitate to let Leung Chun-ying know what he can do to make Hong Kong a more liveable place

READ MORE: Hong Kong’s waste problem: a stinking trail of missed targets, data errors and misdirected efforts

Edwin Lau says Hongkongers shouldn’t hesitate to let Leung Chun-ying know what he can do to make Hong Kong a more liveable place