In response to the Invitation and Response Document (the Consultation Document) of the The Council for Sustainable Development, we DISAGREE that air quality in Hong Kong has become an emotive issue. Pollution problems are basically scientific (technological) and moral problems. Scientifically, we could trace the current air pollution problems to their linkage to the industrial revolution in the 18th century in England which subsequently spread throughout the world with the undesirable by-product of generating and aggravating the earth’s pollution burden. Morally, it can be seen that the extensive scales of the problems are the result of greed, selfishness, incompetence and a lack of foresight on the part of the advocators and enterprenuers advancing industrialisation without due regard to ecology and social responisibility.
However, we do agree with Mr. Rafael HUI, Chairman of Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) that we should all work together for the well-being of our future generations, which is built upon every effort we contribute to the sustainable development of our home city. For this reason, we would like to forward our views on the Consultation Document as follows:
a) If we could only implement measures to deal with the relatively minor and peripheral aspects and yet leaving the major polluting sources unabated, our citizens would easily be frustrated owing to non-proportionate expectations. Therefore, the authorities must present a clear and thorough picture with commitment and determination to the general public before launching any ambitious program.
b) We are well aware of the complication, difficulties and obstacles in pursuing a Regional clean-up strategy. Nevertheless, our citizens deserve the right to be informed of a reasonable outlook for the abatement of air pollution problems in the Pearl River Delta region such as cross-border negotiations and joint investigative and research efforts.
c) In terms of the proposed road-pricing scheme to alleviate pollution, we advocate the principle of “The polluter pays to remedy its own mess" (污者自負，用在環保). Obviously, the revenues (if any) to be collected through such road pricing scheme should be appropriate in terms of deterring unnecessary use of polluting vehicles and be reasonable so as NOT to cause undue public grievances or dissention. Reasonable exemption should be applied to use of vehicles for the under-privileged or for reasons of emergency situations. The revenues should go to a separate Environmental Fund set aside to deal specifically with the more urgent and imminent problems.
d) The HKSAR government should take immediate initiative to encourage vehicle owners to replace their polluting vehicles by vehicles with acceptable emission standards. Simultaneously, the government has to provide realistic traffic alternatives to commuters as an encouragement for avoiding congested areas. The government should also take a pro-active role to regulate the likely or anticipated traffic flows together with their pollution potentials which will come about with major developments like the Hong Kong – Zhuhai –Macau Bridge project.
e) Periodic review and announcement of the relevant statistics should be made and publicized by the government for the purposes of information, follow-up and education to the public on the matter of reducing air pollution in good time. We also favor the setting up of an early alarm system to warn the public of any imminent pollution episodes with practical advice for the sick, elderly and the children in particular and the public in general.
f) “Local sustainability” is a rather confined and partial concept before the horrendous trend of globalization. Air pollution problems in particular see no geographical boundary. Any real and lasting air problem created somewhere in the world will eventually affects others elsewhere. The Council should therefore take up a global perspective in dealing with issues even locally.
Submitted by:
Christians for Eco-concern
Date: 15 October, 2007
N.B.:
The above is only a summary of the Full Submission.
However, we do agree with Mr. Rafael HUI, Chairman of Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) that we should all work together for the well-being of our future generations, which is built upon every effort we contribute to the sustainable development of our home city. For this reason, we would like to forward our views on the Consultation Document as follows:
a) If we could only implement measures to deal with the relatively minor and peripheral aspects and yet leaving the major polluting sources unabated, our citizens would easily be frustrated owing to non-proportionate expectations. Therefore, the authorities must present a clear and thorough picture with commitment and determination to the general public before launching any ambitious program.
b) We are well aware of the complication, difficulties and obstacles in pursuing a Regional clean-up strategy. Nevertheless, our citizens deserve the right to be informed of a reasonable outlook for the abatement of air pollution problems in the Pearl River Delta region such as cross-border negotiations and joint investigative and research efforts.
c) In terms of the proposed road-pricing scheme to alleviate pollution, we advocate the principle of “The polluter pays to remedy its own mess" (污者自負，用在環保). Obviously, the revenues (if any) to be collected through such road pricing scheme should be appropriate in terms of deterring unnecessary use of polluting vehicles and be reasonable so as NOT to cause undue public grievances or dissention. Reasonable exemption should be applied to use of vehicles for the under-privileged or for reasons of emergency situations. The revenues should go to a separate Environmental Fund set aside to deal specifically with the more urgent and imminent problems.
d) The HKSAR government should take immediate initiative to encourage vehicle owners to replace their polluting vehicles by vehicles with acceptable emission standards. Simultaneously, the government has to provide realistic traffic alternatives to commuters as an encouragement for avoiding congested areas. The government should also take a pro-active role to regulate the likely or anticipated traffic flows together with their pollution potentials which will come about with major developments like the Hong Kong – Zhuhai –Macau Bridge project.
e) Periodic review and announcement of the relevant statistics should be made and publicized by the government for the purposes of information, follow-up and education to the public on the matter of reducing air pollution in good time. We also favor the setting up of an early alarm system to warn the public of any imminent pollution episodes with practical advice for the sick, elderly and the children in particular and the public in general.
f) “Local sustainability” is a rather confined and partial concept before the horrendous trend of globalization. Air pollution problems in particular see no geographical boundary. Any real and lasting air problem created somewhere in the world will eventually affects others elsewhere. The Council should therefore take up a global perspective in dealing with issues even locally.
Submitted by:
Christians for Eco-concern
Date: 15 October, 2007
N.B.:
The above is only a summary of the Full Submission.
