Why University of Hong Kong should reconsider phasing out print newspapers from its libraries

University of Hong Kong libraries are phasing out print newspapers starting from November this year. The management said that, similar to the print books and journals, the decline of print newspaper usage has become a trend that it simply cannot ignore.

As all the print newspapers the libraries subscribed to are now available on single/multiple e-platforms with search, download and zoom-in functions that can better address research and browsing needs, the management believes it’s time to migrate entirely to electronic newspapers and channel its efforts towards the promotion of e-newspapers and improving the user experience.

The management seems to ignore the fact that many elderly alumni who often use the library’s facilities have poor eyesight, and too much screen time can have an adverse impact on the eyesight of people of all ages.

Moreover, many readers enjoy simply holding a newspaper in their hands and reading, rereading or browsing through the content and photographs in the different sections.

Since the libraries are well-funded by the government, alumni and Jockey Club, is it really too expensive to continue providing print newspapers so they can be easily accessed by all readers and to protect young students’ eyesight?

The University of Hong Kong is likely to be the first and only government-funded tertiary institute in Hong Kong to cancel print newspapers. I hope the library management will do more consultation and observation before cancelling print newspapers.

Jenny Wong, Kennedy Town

Vaccine and testing record website needs an update

To facilitate Covid-19 testing and vaccination, the government has created the Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record (EVT) website where residents can look up their test results and download their inoculation records. To better serve society, the government should improve the design of this website and integrate it with iAMSmart, the smartphone app launched by the government for identity authentication.

To access their testing records, residents have to enter their personal information and sample bottle numbers at the EVT website. Alternatively, iAMSmart users can access their testing records via their smartphones using the app without inputting personal data.

Despite the convenience, however, only 26 per cent of enquiries were made using iAMSmart. The government should set up a QR code login page on the EVT website for iAMSmart users and allow visitors to download the app on the spot. In fact, the EVT website visitors have to install the iAMSmart app to download their Covid-19 vaccination records.

The designers of the website violate the basic principle of consistency as they force the public to use the iAMSmart app to access their vaccination records without providing website visitors with the same option to check their test results. We urge the Office of Government Chief Information Officer to update the EVT website as soon as possible.

Zhenyuan Lu and Litao Chen, Kowloon Tong

Hong Kong’s climate action plan sets concrete targets

I refer to the Opinion article by Edwin Lau (“Hong Kong’s climate change goals need regulations with teeth to succeed”, October 14).

Apart from laying down an overall framework to guide the city’s decarbonisation journey in the next three decades, the Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 has put forward concrete initiatives and action plans to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon emissions by half before 2035.

Mr Lau might have missed that, in addition to phasing out coal, the plan included detailed measures and steps to increase the share of renewable energy from less than 1 per cent at present to 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent, and the share of zero-carbon energy to about 60 per cent to 70 per cent before 2035.

To achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, it is necessary to have an in-depth appraisal of the carbon sources in Hong Kong. Electricity generation was the largest source of carbon emissions (66 per cent), followed by transport (18 per cent) and waste (7 per cent).

Currently, the local fuel mix for electricity generation mainly relies on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. We can remove most of the carbon emissions if we increase the use of zero-carbon energy for electricity generation and gradually phase out fossil fuel vehicles by electrifying the transport sector.

For carbon emissions from waste, they are mainly greenhouse gases generated by the decomposition of municipal waste in landfills. As such, we have to phase out landfilling for municipal waste disposal to reduce carbon emissions and avoid using our precious land for developing new landfills.

As for the remaining carbon emission sources, such as non-road vehicles and refrigerants, actions will be taken to identify suitable zero-carbon energy or alternative technologies.

In addition to zero-carbon energy sources and technologies, reducing energy demand can lower the total cost of switching to zero-carbon energy and lessen the financial burden on the public. At present, buildings account for about 90 per cent of the electricity consumption in Hong Kong. As such, improving energy efficiency of buildings to reduce energy demand will be our top priority in future energy saving efforts.

The government is fully committed. In the next 15 to 20 years, it will devote about HK$240 billion to take forward various measures on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

To achieve carbon neutrality successfully, it is necessary to mobilise the whole community to work together. We will establish a dedicated advisory committee on climate change to encourage different sectors in the community, including our young generation, to actively participate in climate action. We will also work with different sectors to promote a low-carbon lifestyle in Hong Kong.

Striving for carbon neutrality will also bring about new opportunities, such as developing Hong Kong into a green finance hub, fostering green industries and jobs, and inducing technology and innovation development. It will be a challenging and yet necessary journey for everyone in Hong Kong.

Daniel Tang, principal environmental protection officer (cross-boundary and international), Environmental Protection Department