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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 10):

Question:

It has been reported that the Russian President announced on 30 September this year that the Russian Government had endorsed a bill to ratify the Kyoto Protocol ("the Protocol") and the bill had been submitted to the Russian State Duma for approval. The Protocol will come into effect in Parties to the Protocol all over the world after the bill has been approved by the Russian State Duma, endorsed by the Upper House of Russian's Parliament and signed by the President. It will also be an important step taken by the international communities to counter threats posed by climate change to the world. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council

(a) how Hong Kong will fulfil its obligations after the Protocol comes into effect; and

(b) of the progress made by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in coordinating with the Central People's Government regarding the submission of reports to the United Nations, including how it will prepare the relevant reports, of the timetable for drafting the reports, the government departments responsible for the drafting work and the procedures for ratifying the draft reports?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) & (b) The Central People's Government (CPG) notified the United Nations in May 2003 that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ("the Convention") and its Kyoto Protocol ("the Protocol") were applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The Convention and the Protocol require the contracting parties to submit reports on greenhouse gas emissions to the United Nations from time to time. The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau will co-ordinate the submission of information on the situation in Hong Kong to the CPG in accordance with the framework and work schedule laid down by the CPG.

Ends/Wednesday, November 10, 2004

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