Groups see it as a sign of how green issues are taking a back seat of late
Hong Kong will miss out as groups around the world join in celebrating Earth Day tomorrow.
The annual 'Earth Day Masked Parade' organised by local action group Clear the Air to mark the day has been postponed indefinitely as the Sars outbreak continues to force cancellations of large-scale events due to fear of the disease spreading in a crowded setting.
Tobias Forster, secretary of Lamma-based action group A Better Living Environment, said it was unfortunate that environmental matters had slipped down the ladder of priorities in Hong Kong. 'Three to four years ago the environment was a big issue, but it's taken a bit of a back seat because of the economic downturn and now Sars,' he said.
'Any economy has to be built on the foundation of a strong environment, and this is a vital consideration for everybody. Earth Day gives people a chance to fully consider their role [in this regard].'
The Conservancy Association, meanwhile, urged the public to use the opportunity to 're-think' whether Hong Kong was a sustainable city, particularly in light of recent developments.
'At a very elementary level we have a lot of catching up to do on environmental hygiene, with some areas still looking like third-world places,' said the association's chief executive, Gordon Ng Ting-leung.
