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VI. Environmental Protection and Conservation
156. Environmental protection is one of the priorities of the current-term Government. In my first year of office, the Government drew up a more comprehensive and long-term blueprint to improve Hong Kong's environment and launched a series of major environmental protection initiatives.
Air Quality
157. The Environment Bureau (ENB) announced A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong last March, with the goal of broadly achieving the new Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) by 2020. The new AQOs took effect this month.
158. The Government has reached a consensus with the industry to phase out some 82 000 old Euro III or earlier diesel commercial vehicles and the relevant legislation has been passed by this Council. Subject to this Council's approval for a provision of about $11.4 billion to meet expenditure on ex gratia payments, we will kick-start the scheme in March this year. Moreover, newly registered diesel commercial vehicles will be subject to a service life limit of 15 years with effect from February 2014.
159. The sulphur content of local marine diesel will be reduced from 0.5% to 0.05%. The relevant legislation will soon be introduced into this Council. To reduce sulphur dioxide and particulate emissions, the ENB will introduce a bill into this Council within this year to require ocean-going vessels at berth in Hong Kong to switch to low-sulphur diesel. We will seek to implement the new requirement next year.
Waste Management
160. The Government needs to bring fundamental changes to the principles of waste management and take actions accordingly in the current term. Last year, the Government published the Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources, which sets out our strategy for waste management for the coming ten years. The blueprint sets a target of reducing waste by 40% in a decade and puts forward the related policies and action plans.
161. We have completed the public consultation on a Producer Responsibility Scheme on Glass Beverage Bottles and introduced into this Council the proposed legislative amendments to extend the scope of the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags. Also, the image of "Big Waster" in the Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign is gradually taking root in people's minds and changing attitudes towards food wastage.
162. It is our policy to introduce quantity-based charging for municipal solid waste. Based on the principle of "pay-as-you-throw", the initiative will provide an incentive to reduce and recover domestic, commercial and industrial waste. The Council for Sustainable Development has conducted a public engagement exercise for over three months to explore how quantity-based charging can be implemented. It will collate the views received as soon as possible and put forward specific proposals for the Government to devise a quantity-based municipal solid waste charging mechanism suitable for Hong Kong.
Recycling Industry
163. The newly established Steering Committee to Promote the Sustainable Development of the Recycling Industry will listen to views on the operation of the industry and the support to be given by the Government. To promote the sustainable development of the industry, the Government has earmarked $1 billion to launch a Recycling Fund and will formulate details on use of the Fund.
Organic Waste and Food Waste
164. Some 40% of Hong Kong's municipal solid waste is organic waste. While the bulk of it is food waste, it also includes yard waste. We will draw up comprehensive strategies and plans to reduce, recover and treat organic waste, including the provision in stages of modern facilities to convert organic waste into energy and other useful resources.
Community Green Station Network
165. Early last year, the ENB announced the development of five pilot community green stations. These stations will be operated by non-profit-making organisations to enhance environmental education and help collect different types of recyclables in the local community, with a view to promoting green living at the community level. To implement the "reduction first" waste management strategy, the Government plans to develop one green station in each of the 18 districts and provide funding for their operation. The capital works will cost about $400 million. Planning is already underway and the first community green station is expected to be completed by mid-2014.
Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme
166. As restored landfills are not suitable for large-scale construction or industrial use, some have been developed into community or recreational facilities. There remains about 18 hectares of restored sites available for similar use. To expedite development and make better use of these sites, the Government has earmarked $1 billion to launch a Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme. Non-profit-making organisations, national sports associations and other groups can apply for funding under the scheme to develop recreational, environmental or other community facilities on these sites.
Waste Treatment Facilities
167. The Government will ensure that waste treatment facilities meet high environmental and operational standards. The Government will strengthen communication with local communities regarding the facilities including their management, delivery arrangements, environmental monitoring and hygiene to minimise the impacts on residents.
Alleviating the Pressure on Landfills
168. The Government will continue to encourage public participation in waste reduction at source as well as waste separation and recovery. We will review and rationalise the location of recycling bins in public places and the mode of collecting recyclables. We will also launch a mobile phone application to provide information about waste reduction and the location of recycling facilities.
Water Quality of Victoria Harbour
169. On completion of the main works of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A by the end of this year, the water quality of Victoria Harbour proper will further improve. To enhance the quality of the coastal waters of Victoria Harbour, the Environmental Protection Department will commission a consultancy study with the long-term objective of enhancing the leisure and amenity value of the coastal areas of Victoria Harbour.
Green Building
170. The Steering Committee on the Promotion of Green Building was set up last year. Apart from reviewing the relevant work of government departments, the Committee also gauges the views of the industry and studies overseas experience. It will formulate strategies to further promote green buildings and make recommendations on relevant measures.
Historic Buildings and Nature Conservation
171. In the past year, the Government reviewed the conservation policy of historic buildings with the assistance of the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB). The subjects reviewed include the extent and means of using public resources, and the formulation of a more detailed mechanism and more specific criteria. It also studied whether there was a need to enhance the conservation of private historic buildings in the context of town planning. The AAB will soon submit its report to the Government.
172. The Government is implementing a number of measures to strengthen the conservation of ecologically important sites in private ownership through the Management Agreement Scheme and the Public-Private Partnership Pilot Scheme, and to conserve sites with high ecological significance through statutory procedures.
VII. Healthcare
173. The Government will continue to enhance the quality of public healthcare services, including construction of new hospitals and expansion and redevelopment of existing hospitals. Strategic studies on the planned acute general hospital in the Kai Tak Development are underway.
174. Last year, the Government allocated a one-off lump sum grant of $13 billion to the Hospital Authority (HA) for minor works projects over the next 10 years to improve existing facilities in public hospitals and clinics.
175. Due to an ageing population and lifestyle changes, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer has continued to increase. It became the most common cancer in Hong Kong in 2011. Therefore, the Government will subsidise colorectal cancer screening for higher risk groups. The Department of Health is conducting a study with the HA and will start the preparatory work of a pilot programme this year.
176. The Review Committee on Mental Health is reviewing Hong Kong's mental health policy to help the Government map out the future policy direction. This year, the Government will earmark additional resources to provide new generation drugs for more patients in need, strengthen manpower to enhance in-patient and out-patient services and expand the Case Management Programme for patients with severe mental illness to cover all 18 districts in Hong Kong.
177. Our growing and ageing population has led to a rising demand for healthcare services. The Steering Committee on Strategic Review on Healthcare Manpower Planning and Professional Development is conducting a comprehensive review of the manpower demand in various healthcare professions. It will recommend how to cope with the manpower demand and facilitate professional development. The Government and the Medical Council of Hong Kong have taken measures to refine the arrangements for the licensing examination for medical practitioners, including increasing the examination sittings to twice a year and considering more flexibility in internship arrangements, in order to encourage qualified overseas doctors to practise in Hong Kong. The HA will continue to recruit overseas doctors by way of Limited Registration and provide nurse training programmes.
178. The Chinese Medicine Development Committee was established last year. The Chinese medicine sector generally agrees that Hong Kong needs and stands ready to develop a Chinese medicine hospital to provide Chinese medicine in-patient services. This will also help enhance the professional training and standards of Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong. The Government has decided to reserve a site in Tseung Kwan O, originally earmarked for private hospital development, to set up a Chinese medicine hospital.
179. Regarding the voluntary Health Protection Scheme, the Food and Health Bureau is formulating recommendations in light of the consultant's advice, overseas experience and local situation. The Government will consult the public later this year on specific implementation proposals, including exploring the provision of tax breaks to encourage people to purchase health insurance.
(To be continued)
Ends/Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:55
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