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The Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs Lily Yam, announced today (October 17) the setting up of a Steering Committee to spearhead a 'Clean Hong Kong' programme to be launched at the end of the year.

Mrs Yam said, "Clean Hong Kong is one of the initiatives as stated in the Chief Executive's Policy Address. Our objective is to bring about visible and sustainable improvements on the ground through both active cleansing operations and public education and publicity efforts."

"The Steering Committee on Clean Hong Kong will provide a steer on the strategies and measures to be adopted to improve the environmental hygiene conditions of Hong Kong," she added.

The Clean Hong Kong programme will last for three years and comprise four key elements. They include:

* Stepped up enforcement action against littering and dumping of waste;

* Enhanced effectiveness of existing laws against littering and dumping;

* Joint efforts with District Councils and other local organizations to secure noticeable improvement on the ground; and

* Public education and publicity programmes to reinforce public commitment to a cleaner Hong Kong.

Dr Daniel Tse, also Chairman of the Advisory Council on Food and Environmental Hygiene, has agreed to take on the chairmanship of the Steering Committee.

Mrs Yam remarked, "This will provide a strong link between the Steering Committee and the Advisory Council."

"Under the guidance of the Steering Committee and with concerted efforts between Government and the community, I am confident that the programme will help to improve the level of environmental hygiene in Hong Kong," she added.

With Dr. Daniel Tse and Mrs Lily Yam as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Steering Committee respectively, the Steering Committee is made up of 16 non-official and three official members.

The membership of the Steering Committee is as follows :

Chairman

Dr TSE Chi-wai, Daniel, GBS, JP

Vice-chairman

Mrs Lily Yam, JP Secretary for the Environment and Food

Non-official Members

Dr the Honourable LO Wing-lok

Mr CHAN Bing-woon, SBS, JP

Mr CHAU How-chen, JP

Dr HO Dit-sang, John

Mr HUI Chin-yim, Stephen

Ms IP Kit-hing, Kitty

Mr KAN Chung-nin, Tony, BBS

Miss KI Man-fung, Leonie

Ms KU Yin-kay, Kay, MH

Professor KWAN Hoi-shan

Mrs Peggy LAM, SBS, JP

Mrs LAM WONG Pik-har, Grace

Mrs LEE CHAN Ka-yan, Grace

Mr LO Yau-lai, Winston

Professor MA Ching-yung

Mr WONG Luen-kin, Anthony, JP

Official Members

Mrs Rita LAU, JP Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene

Ms Shelley LEE, JP Director of Home Affairs

Mr Thomas CHAN, JP Director of Information Services

END/Tuesday, October 17, 2000

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