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Press Release
Consultation forum on review of air quality objectives
The Consultation Forum held by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 31) on Review of Air Quality Objectives and Development of a Long-Term Air Quality Strategy received an encouraging response from various sectors of the community.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong, highlighted the Government's determination to fully meet the current Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) and to further tighten the AQOs to reflect the latest knowledge and international developments on the subject as well as community aspirations for cleaner air. She also detailed Hong Kong's strategy to tackle the air pollution problem.
Today's forum was the second one organised as part of the first round engagement process to seek views and comments from the general public. The first forum, which engaged academics and professionals in the relevant fields including health, transport, town planning, environmental engineering, energy and power generation, was held on December 18, 2007.
A EPD spokesman said that about 400 participants from various sectors of the community attended the two forums.
In today's forum, which was chaired by Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Environment, Professor Lam Kin-che, a panel of subject experts presented their views from different perspectives including medical and health, atmospheric science, environmental planning and development as well as industry and public utility. The presentations were followed by active discussions and exchanges of views involving other participants in the forum.
In June, 2007, the Environmental Protection Department commissioned an 18-month study to review the AQOs and the long-term air quality management strategy in light of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) released in October, 2006, and other relevant international developments.
The spokesman said that to ensure a transparent process and help build up consensus on our future AQOs and how they were to be achieved, the department would engage the public in the course of the study.
"Their views and comments are being considered for factoring into the study. The Environmental Protection Department will consult the stakeholders further before finalising the new AQOs and the long-term strategy required for their achievement," he said.
Ends/Thursday, January 31, 2008
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