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Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the Clinton Global Initiative Dinner at Grand Hyatt Hotel today (December 2):
President Clinton, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you, President Clinton, and the Clinton Global Initiative to Hong Kong. We are honoured that you have chosen Hong Kong as the inaugural host city for CGI Asia, and also the first city outside of the US to stage a CGI congress.
I know that this major international conference is just the first of many CGI events to be held in Asia in the years ahead. But I also want you to know that the CGI is welcome back any time.
President Clinton, seven years ago, when you visited our city, you described Hong Kong as, I quote: "Exhibit 'A' for the case of global interdependence and its benefits." - end quote.
The current financial turmoil has prompted some - perhaps many - to question whether even closer links between economies and people around the world are really worth the trouble.
I think you already know where Hong Kong stands on that issue. We are firm believers in more open markets, more engagement, and more communication between the people of the world. And we put our belief into action.
The CGI's mission to move beyond globalisation for a more integrated global community of shared benefits, responsibilities, and values strikes a resonant chord with us here in Hong Kong.
As a small and externally oriented economy, we have benefited greatly from the globalisation of trade, business services, capital flows and knowledge transfer. Our iconic skyline is like a bar chart of our progress these past 30 years. We welcome people around the world to live, work and study here. We will not move away from this commitment.
If anything, we believe the current economic crisis provides an opportunity to deepen and broaden co-operation and engagement in many areas of importance to the future of the world - not just in the financial sphere, but in areas such as public health, education, fighting disease, food safety and energy security.
Another issue, of course, is climate change, which is one of the three focus areas for CGI Asia.
Even though Hong Kong is a small emitter of greenhouse gases - both in absolute and per capita terms - we are determined to reduce them even further and to become a leading city for low-carbon and green living.
Greenhouse gas emissions make no distinction between local, national or regional boundaries. Our strategy is to take a multi-pronged approach - locally, nationally and internationally - to cut back greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy consumption with practical actions.
Globally, Hong Kong has always taken its international responsibilities very seriously. Climate change is no different. Just over a week ago at APEC, Hong Kong joined other Member Economies to reconfirm our commitment to achieving the targets set out in the 2007 Sydney Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development.
We are also playing an active role in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. This coalition of cities on the five continents has pledged to reduce carbon emissions and works hand-in-hand with the Clinton Climate Initiative to achieve these goals.
Nationally, we have worked closely with our National Energy Administration to secure supplies of clean fuel for power generation, and to have cleanly produced energy fed into our electricity grid. This is part of our national government's strategy to tackle climate change and boost environmental protection across the country. The size of this commitment is enormous - in the current Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), the national government has earmarked about US$220 billion for environmental protection. This equates to tremendous business opportunities for companies around the world specialising in environmental technologies.
Nearer to home, we have joined hands with our Guangdong counterparts to become a national role model for low-carbon living.
Hong Kong and Guangdong were at the vanguard of national economic reform over the past 30 years. Now, we aim to lead the way in sustainable development. To achieve this goal, we have set in train a range of important initiatives covering air quality, water resource management, renewable energy, cleaner production, nature conservation, greening, research and of course public education. We are determined to transform the Pearl River Delta into a green and quality living area for its 51 million inhabitants.
Here in Hong Kong, we believe that practical steps are the best way to enhance energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote green living. Over the next five years, we will spend almost US$7 billion on environmental initiatives.
Like you President Clinton, we also believe that the solution to climate change lies in the buildings we inhabit, our civic infrastructure, and the way we live our lives. That is why we vigorously promote energy efficiency in our buildings, and have earmarked close to US$60 million in matching grants for energy and carbon audits and energy efficiency works in buildings. We will also introduce mandatory building energy codes that will reduce our CO2 emissions by nearly 2 million tonnes over the next decade.
Some of you here may remember the hair-raising descent into our old airport at Kai Tak. This area will be transformed into a model green city within the city. For example, a district cooling system using chilled water will help reduce energy bills by up to 35%, and reduce CO2 emissions by almost 60,000 tonnes per year.
We also believe that we don't have to think big to make a big impact. For the past few years we have been urging everyone to set their air conditioners at 25.5 degrees - indeed, this is policy for government premises. This simple turn of the dial can reduce emissions by up to 700,000 tonnes a year. We've also taken the lead to get people to dress more casually in summer, so we don't feel the need to turn down the air conditioning so much to keep cool. Every little bit counts.
President Clinton, esteemed guests, with the world in the economic blues it is tempting to forget about our green responsibilities. But, we do so at our peril. Our economic future is as much dependent on clean air, clean water and renewable energy, as it is on the flow of money through the world's troubled banking system.
Hong Kong has been moving gradually but surely towards low-carbon and green living for some time now. Each step we take is a building block for a cleaner environment - and a cleaner world. Simple changes in the way we live, coupled with resolute government commitment, will have substantial, lasting and positive impact on our living environment.
We are sure the CGI Asia's dialogue on this front will reinforce our commitment to tackling climate change with incremental, practical steps, and provide even more encouragement to all of us to do more - not just for the sake of our own children, but for children everywhere.
Ladies and gentlemen, please now join me in a toast: To our concerted effort, to a better world, and to a brighter future for mankind.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 20:35
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