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Following is the transcript (English portion) of a media session by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, after attending a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment this afternoon (November 24):
Reporter: Secretary, you mentioned that there would be pressure on the tariff if we were to adopt the WHO guidelines targeted on air pollution. How much of an impact do you think thereˇ¦s got to be?
Secretary for the Environment: What I am saying is we need to improve our air quality. And in so doing, in particular in reviewing the air quality objectives, we need to benchmark the highest possible standard and in this particular case, the World Health Organisation guidelines. On the other hand, we also need to look at the impact on the affordability of the community at large. So at what pace and what package of measures that we need to roll out in achieving that, I think that should form a public discussion. And thatˇ¦s what we are intending to do when we roll out the public consultation on air quality objectives review early next year.
Reporter: And higher tariff is one of the options?
Secretary for the Environment: I wouldnˇ¦t say so. But in the overall scheme of things, when we achieve that air quality by, for instance, burning cleaner fuel, there would be a pricing element. And I think with due diligence being done by the government and appropriate pace taken by the community at large, I think hopefully that should be something that the community is willing and afford to pay. And I believe the business sector would also look at it in that manner.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, November 24, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:20
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