Environmentally Responsible Development Preamble Environmentally responsible development is about the delivery of a better quality of life for every one of our citizens, for now and for generations to come. We must tackle immediate problems - air pollution from power plants and vehicle emission, and water pollution in the harbour - with renewed vigour and determination. We owe it to future generations to act now and preserve the environment through the promulgation of sound policies on nature conservation, waste reduction and recycling, total water management and greening as well as the implementation of effective programmes. The community, the business sector and the Government are stakeholders as much as they are partners in the protection and improvement of our environment. It is incumbent upon all parties to take up this responsibility to collaborate fully, working together with commitment to Hong Kong - a place where we and our children build our sustainable home. New Initiatives We will:   Introduce a pilot emissions trading scheme among power plants in Hong Kong and Guangdong to optimise the use of resources in the reduction of emissions in the same air shed as part of our current programme with the Guangdong Provincial Government to improve air quality in the Pearl River Delta Region. Implement the polluter pays principle and introduce a landfill charging scheme for construction and demolition waste in 2004. This is expected to provide economic incentives for waste producers to reduce such waste and carry out sorting to facilitate reuse/recycling. Introduce in 2003 a pilot scheme to test out the economics and logistics of wet-and-dry garbage sorting which, if successful, will be extended into large-scale domestic waste recycling as part of the overall integrated waste management programme. A benchmark for waste reduction will also be established. Promulgate in 2003 a comprehensive nature conservation policy including practicable measures to better conserve ecologically important habitats in close partnership with academics and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Consider the introduction of a rating system for ecological values of different locations as well as benchmarking against other developed cities or states with similar climatic and physical conditions. Implement the Total Water Management programme in which water conservation and water resource protection are enhanced through education and promotion, while examining technologies for recycling and desalination through pilot schemes. Develop a land use, transport and environment strategy under the Hong Kong 2030 study to guide the long-term development of Hong Kong. Consult various stakeholders with a view to making preliminary proposals on small house policy for more in depth discussion. Enhance building management and maintenance of private housing through education, publicity, and greater participation of professional bodies and the private sector, and initiate discussions on ways to providing one stop service to owners of private buildings.   Ongoing Initiatives We are:   Implementing incentive schemes to encourage replacement of diesel taxis with LPG taxis by end-2003 and replacement of diesel light buses with LPG or electric light buses by end-2005. Promoting the installation of particulate traps and catalytic converters on pre-Euro diesel vehicles through provision of financial assistance and taking steps to introduce legislation to make the installation mandatory upon completion of retrofit programme. Promoting the adoption of state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly technology by bus companies in their new fleet purchases and encouraging them to deploy cleaner vehicles along busy corridors. New franchise conditions will be introduced requiring bus companies to adopt the latest commercially available environmental technologies in their new buses. Operators who promote environmentally friendly measures will be given a better chance to secure the right to operate new bus route packages. Building on the existing arrangement whereby only Euro II and Euro III engine buses are deployed to bus routes operating in Causeway Bay corridors, we will work with bus companies to promote the use of more Euro II and Euro III engine buses in other busy corridors. Exploring opportunities to reuse inert construction and demolition materials outside Hong Kong. Encouraging the use of recycled construction and demolition materials in public works projects. Striving to reduce by 2010 the emission of four major air pollutants in the region by such levels as will enable Hong Kong to achieve the current air quality objectives. Concluding in 2003 trials and studies on the four options recommended by the International Review Panel on the remaining stages of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, before public consultation in 2004. Promoting the integration of sustainability in the Government and the community and setting up the Council for Sustainable Development. Implementing a comprehensive greening policy for Hong Kong through the collaboration of different departments and with the input of experts and specialists in the area, and aiming initially to develop the most sustainable greening programme for the urban areas. Promoting the wider application of renewable energy. Improving the legislative framework for building control and building safety. Streamlining the town planning process under the Town Planning Ordinance and enhancing openness of the planning system.   Contents   2003 | Important notices Last revision date: January 8, 2003