LegCo to debate vigorously reducing air pollution

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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (December 15) at 2.30pm in the Legislative Council Chamber. During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on vigorously reducing air pollution.

The motion, to be moved by Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, says: "That, since air pollution remains severe in Hong Kong in recent days, which not only poses a health hazard to Hong Kong people, but also discourages foreign businesses from investing in Hong Kong, this Council urges the Government to expeditiously discuss with the Guangdong authorities the adoption of vigorous tackling measures to improve the situation, including:

(a) strengthening co-operation with the Guangdong authorities to tighten the emission standards for factories, power plants and motor vehicles, etc, and achieving the emission reduction targets for 2010 at an earlier date;

(b) endeavouring to unify the emission standards and regulatory systems in Hong Kong and Guangdong;

(d) providing Hong Kong business operators in the Pearl River Delta who have installed air pollution control systems in their plants with tax relief on depreciation of the relevant machinery;

(e) striving to reduce pollutants such as sulphur dioxide emitted in the process of power generation by the two power companies in Hong Kong, and increasing the use of more environmentally friendly energy;

(f) further promoting the incentive scheme for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) light buses and extending it to light goods vehicles;

(g) considering the provision of additional sites for setting up LPG filling stations;

(h) actively engaging in research and development on the utilization of renewable energy;

(i) expediting the introduction of a registration system for vehicle repair technicians and garages; and

(j) vigorously introducing other types of environmentally friendly vehicles and related incentive measures,

with a view to minimizing emissions, thereby enabling residents of the whole Pearl River Delta to enjoy clean fresh air.¡¨

Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing, Hon CHOY So-yuk and Hon LEE Wing-tat will move separate amendments to Hon James TIEN Pei-chun's motion.

Members will also debate a motion proposed by Hon WONG Yung-kan on formulating a sustainable policy on agriculture and fisheries. His motion says: "That, as Article 119 of the Basic Law provides that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall formulate appropriate policies to promote and co-ordinate the development of various trades including agriculture and fisheries, and pay regard to the protection of the environment, this Council urges the Government to formulate a sustainable policy on agriculture and fisheries, including developing offshore fishing, deep-sea purse-seine fishing, leisure agriculture and fisheries, and mariculture; setting up a priority zone for agriculture, and developing quality livestock farming and organic farming; assisting the development of the agricultural and fishery products processing industries, as well as establishing a monitoring system for green agricultural and fishery food products, so as to enable the local agriculture and fisheries industries to develop through further restructuring and to supply quality agricultural and fishery foods to the people of Hong Kong."

Hon Emily LAU Wai-hing will move an amendment to Hon WONG Yung-kan's motion.

During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 17 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council web site (http://www.legco.gov.hk).

Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Ends/Monday, December 13, 2004

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