***********************************

Following is a speech by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the debate on the "Motion of Thanks" in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Madam President,

May I start by thanking the many members who made mention of environmental issues during their speeches on the Policy Address.

The policy address has issued us all with a challenge to work together to improve Hong Kong's environmental performance for the sake of our economy and the health of our citizens. I am grateful for the encouraging response from so many Members. Although some Members have criticised the Government on our work, these criticisms are good-natured and reflect that basically Members support Government's environmental policy.

I would concentrate on the two areas that Members made clear are of greatest concern, that is, air pollution and the management of waste.

The Government is fully aware of the concern of our citizens on the air pollution levels in Hong Kong. Poor air quality affects the health of our residents and the impression visitors have on our city. The main source of our air pollution comes from our vehicles. In the Policy Address and in the presentations made by my colleague the Secretary for Transport, emphasis has been put on the work we are doing to develop a more environmentally friendly transport system. I wish to focus this afternoon on the work we are doing now to reduce the pollution coming from the present road transport system.

The Chief Executive has given an objective to the public service, the taxi, motor and gas supply trades, to ensure that we can require all new taxis to operate on LPG by the end of 2000.

We all share members' hope to move faster on this programme. But, to ensure that the switch of fuel takes place without disruption to the taxi service, a comprehensive system for LPG refueling and maintenance has to be put in place. Moreover, the very highest standards of safety must be maintained. It would not be acceptable to reduce one risk to the community by exposing it to another. But I do want to give two undertakings to this Council and to the community this afternoon.

First, we will work with the taxi trade, motor trade and gas supply companies to maximize the use of every new LPG facility as it comes on stream even before the end of 2000, so that we encourage as many LPG taxis as possible to operate on a voluntary basis.

Second, while we phase in LPG taxis, we will pursue our programme to clean up the emissions from existing taxis and from the rest of the vehicle fleet with the utmost vigour. That programme involves action in four areas : -

(A) First is enforcement action against smoky vehicles.

* We are issuing the police with new portable smoke meters, to make it easier for them prosecute smoky vehicles on street through fixed penalty tickets. Enabling legislation will be laid before this council shortly.

* We will put an increase in the fixed penalty fine to this Council within this session.

* EPD will step up both regular joint actions with the police and special operations on days when the air pollution index is high.

(B) Second is better maintenance and testing of vehicles.

* Chassis dynamometer tests for smoky light vehicles will be introduced by mid 1999. Systems suitable for use with heavy vehicles are being tested at the moment. These tests will compel vehicle owners to maintain and tune their engines properly.

* EPD and Transport Department will also step up their programmes to educate vehicle owners and mechanics to exercise their responsibility to maintain vehicles properly.

(C) Third is improving emission and fuel standards.

* Most new vehicles are already required to meet emission standards that rank with the best in the world. We will extend controls to cover motor-cycles, and have recommended that any new diesel taxi introduced before the LPG scheme becomes mandatory must meet the Euro II emission standard.

* We are preparing further tightening of emission standards for light vehicles next year, and also expect to introduce standards for evaporative loss from new petrol vehicles.

* We will shortly put legislation to this council to impose a complete ban on the use of leaded petrol.

(D) Fourth is experimentation with new, cleaner technologies.

* Trials on cleaner fuels for the minibus fleet will be proposed in the coming year.

* We are paying close attention to the development of clean technologies, including the work being done by the Polytechnic University, with support from the taxi trade, to develop exhaust filters that may help reduce pollution from the taxi fleet in advance of the conversion to LPG.

Every part of this programme to tackle the vehicle air pollution problem will be given our highest priority and pursued vigourously. I very much welcome the support that is coming from the taxi trade, motor companies and oil suppliers, and from many different groups in the community.

Finally on waste reduction, I fully share members' concern about the need to reduce waste and to make more responsible use of resources. Tomorrow I will be setting out a Waste Reduction Framework Plan. It is a ten year programme designed to help the Government work with the whole community to make Hong Kong one of the world's leaders in reducing waste and improving our efficiency in using resources. The fundamental basis of the Framework Plan is that which has help to make Hong Kong the success it is today. Our emphasis will be on letting market forces work, by encouraging business opportunities and removing institutional constraints.

We have already made a good start in encouraging the source separation of recyclable materials and rapid expansion of these schemes continues. Separate collection of recyclable items and the provision of land specially for the recycling industry will help promote development of the local recycling industry. I shall elaborate on other issues tomorrow.

Today, Hong Kong is a very wasteful society. Our waste has huge economic, social and environmental costs. If we are to make our city a healthier, cleaner, more enjoyable and more sustainable place for ourselves and for our children, tomorrow we must start to reduce producing waste, start to make better use of our resources, and avoid the costs that we impose on society by our waste.

The Framework Plan that we will be setting out tomorrow has been drawn up with the help and advice of many in business, in environmental groups and in advisory bodies. Many of the initiatives have been started quietly, so what we announce tomorrow will be a wide range of activities already getting into their stride. I wish to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped to bring the Framework together, and are already hard at work on its various components. I am greatly encouraged by the tremendous support for these initiatives that is apparent throughout the community, and I look for the support, the advice and the encouragement of this Council as we take forward the plan together in the coming years.

Thank you.

End/Wednesday, November 4, 1998

NNNN