Sceptics and cynics in Hong Kong should be pardoned for being dismissive of the new government initiative to clean the environment announced by Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa last week. When Mr Tung said he had asked the chief secretary for administration to head Team Clean, the first thing that came into the minds of some fellow citizens were images of ministers being chased by cockroaches in back lanes, disinfecting classrooms and cleaning shopping arcades. The second image was how some black spots returned to their usual filthy condition the day after last month's Clean Hong Kong Campaign showbiz was over. Speaking after the first meeting of Team Clean on Tuesday, Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen pledged that its mission 'is not a one-off campaign. We want to make sure that Hong Kong will be kept permanently clean'. Mr Tsang, the No2 man in the Hong Kong administration, said the mission was to aim for a whole series of durable measures that would take Hong Kong to the 'next plateau of cleanliness'. Areas to be considered include urban planning, building design, privately owned premises and streets, civic education, public housing, eateries, public places and back lanes, he said. Noting that the paramount importance of public hygiene has been highlighted by the Sars crisis, he said tourists and investors would not come to Hong Kong if it failed to demonstrate to the world it was a clean city. 'This is an important project: it's not as simple as street-cleaning,' he said. Mr Tsang could not be more correct in underscoring the significance of public hygiene in Hong Kong's drive for premier status in the region. The degree of cleanliness reflects the quality of life in a city. More importantly, it reflects the culture and values, attitudes and lifestyles of a society. If the spread of Sars has brought out some of the shining qualities of Hong Kong people and the strengths of their institutions, it has also laid bare some deep-rooted problems in the society. Despite its densely populated environment, Hong Kong has a low level of public awareness of the importance of hygiene and the risk of infectious disease. Physically, many people live close to each other. Psychologically, their hearts are miles apart. As the society moves towards democratisation, the government has to enhance its accountability and responsiveness to public aspirations, to help improve its legitimacy. Ironically, it has raised unrealistic public expectations about the role of the government and increased the reliance of people on the administration to solve their problems. Subtle changes, though, have emerged from the Sars outbreak. Confronted with their worst economic and social crisis in decades, the people of Hong Kong have risen to the occasion with zealous initiatives to help and care for others. Various fund-raising projects have been launched by charity groups, media organisations and performing arts groups, among others. In view of the severity of the crisis, people have become more willing to sacrifice their individual interest for the common good. This is reflected in the compliance of people in enduring quarantines when necessary. The new community spirit will be vitally important in the government drive to rebuild Hong Kong after the worst of the Sars crisis is over. This is because public understanding and support will be crucial if Team Clean is to come up with short and long-term measures to build a 'clean, hygienic, good and healthy living environment'. The government and people need to reach a consensus on their respective roles and obligations in the process of rebuilding society. Failure to do so will incur the risk of endless and divisive debates on issues such as who should pay for repairing crumbling canopies of old buildings and removing illegal structures from buildings whose owners and tenants cannot afford to pay. In times of crisis, people show more willingness to sacrifice individual freedoms and accept changes in lifestyle for the wellbeing of society. In order to break new ground in improving the environment, the Tung administration will have to adopt a carrot-and-stick approach with imagination and willpower. Team Clean's ability to devise comprehensive measures will be tested, as will its resolve to fight hard political battles over Hong Kong's living environment. Chris Yeung is the Post's Editor-at-Large
