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Current levels of pollution are without doubt placing a significant stress on present conditions, and an increasing burden upon the ability of Hong Kong's environment and society to maintain and enhance the assimilative capacity of the natural capital stock in the future. The sustainability issues raised are not only territorial, but are regional and global in relevance. This is particularly the case for air quality in Hong Kong which has in recent years become heavily influenced by cross-boundary pollution, and also in the SAR's contribution to international phenomena such as global warming and climate change and ozone depletion. Threats to endangered species and marine pollution similarly reflect the trans-boundary importance of these issues.
The baseline review has demonstrated the integrated nature of the various elements of natural capital stock. It has also identified particular threats to individual elements such as ecological resources and biodiversity, natural resources and cultural heritage. Because of the synergies among the elements of the capital stock, generic impacts such as urbanisation and pollution often have impacts on many of the resource components. Thus the 'environmental baseline' in its widest sense requires holistic consideration, protection and enhancement; the traditional, and current, piecemeal approaches to pollution control or habitat protection are not sufficient to safeguard the natural capital stock. The evidence presented here, and commonly encountered in the course of most people's daily activities strongly supports this conclusion.
Achieving an holistic approach to protection and enhancement of our natural capital will require integrated change across a number of sectors including Government, business and industry, and critically among the public. Instead of focusing merely on environmental quality objectives and reducing pollution, future development must embrace concepts of resource efficiency (the 'more from less' principle), social equity, environmental protection and restoration and the recognition of limits to growth. Changes in the institutional sector must not only address the need for cross-sectoral policies and strategies, and the degree of legislative protection afforded within Hong Kong, but must also build upon current efforts to promote more sustainable approaches to development throughout the Pearl River Delta region. The Chief Executive's 1999 Policy Address stressed the need to adopt a collaborative approach with Mainland authorities. For such approaches to be successful, strategic partnering rather than piecemeal measures by separate parties will be needed. The level of effort, and the political will necessary for such changes should not be underestimated - nothing short of a long term strategy on regional resource management will deliver the necessary results given the complex socio-economic relationship between Hong Kong and Southern China.
In a highly developed, prosperous city such as Hong Kong, the need for a sustainable approach to future development is particularly keen. Not only are some of the current trends in baseline environmental change of concern for the maintenance of the natural capital stock, but phenomena such as worsening air quality are detrimental to Hong Kong's efforts to develop as an international city, impact upon tourism and affect the general health of the population. Future development will be guided by social attitudes and behaviour. Whilst societal responses can be influenced by policy and awareness raising initiatives, sustainability requires commitment from all sectors of the community and education will play a key role in the direction of Hong Kong's future development.
In summary therefore, the key response to the current condition of the natural capital stock in Hong Kong lies in the development of holistic and integrated polices and strategies to address the pressures acting upon the environment. In particular, whilst acknowledging recent progress by the Government Departments and Bureaux concerned, the sectors of conservation, transport and energy have been identified as still lacking explicit and comprehensive policies. These areas should receive priority in the production of an integrated framework to achieve sustainable development. Community education to bring about changes in individuals' expectations and lifestyles must parallel these efforts, so that the need for such policies and strategies is understood, and that the changes they will bring are supported and encouraged by Hong Kong's present, and future, custodians.
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