**********************************************************
Following are the opening remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, at the press conference on "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022" held today (May 20):
Hong Kong is facing a great challenge in waste management issues. Today we unveiled the 10-year blueprint for sustainable use of resources in Hong Kong. It outlines a comprehensive strategy to tackle our waste management problem in the coming 10 years with a clear target, concrete action plan and a timetable.
Firstly, we have to understand our core issues. Hong Kong has a large per capita waste load compared with other Asian cities like Seoul, Taipei City and Tokyo. Secondly, our waste infrastructure is incomplete. Our vision is to use less and waste less of our resources. To face the challenges of our waste problem, we need the joint efforts of the entire community to embrace an environmentally-sustainable culture in our daily life. We target to reduce the per capita waste disposal level of municipal sold waste by 40 per cent in 10 years. The target is ambitious but practical.
Firstly, the government will undertake multi-pronged actions to drive behavioural change through legislation and policies. In particular, a key effective tool is to reduce waste through a municipal solid waste charging scheme. Secondly, we will roll out various campaigns to reduce waste, for example the Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign just launched last Saturday. Thirdly, the Government will allocate resources to enhance our waste-related infrastructure, including organic waste treatment facilities, waste-to-energy integrated waste management facilities and, last but not least, landfill extensions, which are indispensible in any city.
The waste issue will be discussed more deeply in Hong Kong, but the issue has been discussed over the years and we need to take action now without further delay for the long term well-being of Hong Kong.
Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the opening remarks.)
Ends/Monday, May 20, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:14
NNNN
