Government welcomes views expressed at Air Summit | Environmental Protection Department

Press Release

Government welcomes views expressed at Air Summit

The Government welcomes the views expressed by stakeholders at the Air Summit organised by the Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) today (December 17).

Noting that stakeholders have had a constructive and dynamic dialogue in reviewing and consolidating the views gathered during the engagement process on Better Air Quality, a Government spokesman said the Government would give due consideration to their recommendations, especially their practicality.

The spokesman added that some of the recommendations already had been included in the Chief Executive's Policy Address, including a five-year programme to assist and encourage Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta region to adopt cleaner production technologies and processes, a proposal to legislate against idling vehicles with running engines and the injection of $1 billion into the Environment and Conservation Fund for educational, environmental protection and conservation activities.

"We look forward to receiving SDC's engagement report in early 2008 and will give due consideration to the report in formulating the Government's long term way forward for improving air quality," the spokesman said.

Ends/Monday, December 17, 2007

The Council for Sustainable Development held an Air Summit today (December 17) to consolidate views gathered during the engagement process on air quality in Hong Kong. Picture shows the chairman of the council, Dr Edgar Cheng, addressing the audience at the summit

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, speaks at the Air Summit held by the Council for Sustainable Development today (December 17)