Three years ago, the Government commissioned a study on waste reduction. Only now has it got round to producing a plan arising out of the suggestions. What it amounts to, in essence, is more waste paper to add to the mountain the territory already squanders.
Environmental concerns are low on the administration's list of priorities, partly because they are even lower with the public. But a report which, in short, proposes to do very little - and do that very slowly - highlights an airy-fairy attitude that is costing Hong Kong millions in lost opportunities. In 15 years, the territory will have run out of landfills for waste which, in more organised and environmentally aware societies, is recycled to heat water, light streets and cut costs in the civic budget.
Only eight per cent of Hong Kong's waste is recycled. Every tonne of rubbish dumped in landfill costs $685. Significantly, the one element which is almost always recycled is metal, where there is money to be made.
The Government has shied away from offering financial incentives to rubbish collectors because they fear it will open the door to fraud. Yet they are unwilling to make refuse reduction mandatory, believing they can encourage companies to introduce their own recycling schemes.
The chances of success are not high. Profit driven enterprises are not interested in adding to their costs for the sake of environmental protection. The refusal of taxi companies to switch from diesel to petrol is a case in point - that issue touched on the health of the community, but it did not move the cab operators or legislators who supported them. Profit will take precedence over the environment in Hong Kong until the situation reaches real crisis.
We are at the threshold now, but sadly the will is not there to tackle the problem. The Government is even reluctant to set an example by buying 'green' products because it may not be cost effective. Eventually, the message will get through that real cost effectiveness involves safeguarding the threatened landscape, cleaning up the sea and protecting the health of inhabitants.
