Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa has announced a series of initiatives to improve the environment and enhance Hong Kong’s status as a world-class city.
“The Government’s task is to enhance the quality of our living environment,’’ Mr Tung said in his 2001 Policy Address.
“As a world-class city, Hong Kong must provide its people with a clean and comfortable living environment. A quality living environment will also attract more business investment, more talents and more tourists.’’
Measures included a continued reduction in vehicle emissions, which have already fallen by 60 per cent in the year 1999 – 2000. Nearly 70 per cent of Hong Kong’s taxis now run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG); over 18,000 older, light diesel trucks have been fitted with particulate traps and all diesel vehicles including franchised buses now use much cleaner ultra-low sulphur diesel.
In the coming year, Mr Tung has pledged more resources and manpower to improve environmental hygiene and increase Hong Kong’s greening efforts, and said that as old urban areas are re-developed, the Government will preserve their characteristics and cultural heritage.
In other recent environmental initiatives, the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) is looking to preserve a prized wetland habitat in the New Territories by proposing a tunnel approach to the construction of its Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau spur line.
