Waste management is a key issue for sustainability in Hong Kong as projected increases in waste arisings pose major treatment and disposal challenges. Measures to address these issues, in particular the Government's Waste Reduction Framework Plan and initiatives to address construction and demolition waste by the public and private sector, must be accorded greater priority and urgency across Government, business and the wider community. Since waste is generated by all sectors of the community, everyone must share responsibility for its control; there is a need for further education to encourage re-use and recycling of materials, discourage illegal dumping of waste and foster co-operation in the planning of the waste treatment facilities which will be required to meet the targets of the Framework Plan. Schemes to introduce charging for waste collection, treatment and disposal should also be considered in addressing the urgent need for waste reduction and re-use.

Agriculture and Fisheries - Issues and Trends

• The area of cultivated land in Hong Kong has declined by more than 50% between 1954 and 1996. Of the remaining 2,900 ha in production, nearly half is used for pond culture and one third for market gardening. Agricultural resources are under greatest pressure from the development of land which may have been exacerbated by a reduced need to raise produce locally as import distribution channels have improved.
• Local marine fisheries are also in decline: catches landed in Hong Kong have declined from a peak of just over 90,000 tonnes in 1976 to just over 50,000 tonnes in 1996. Species composition data for marine fish stocks show an apparent trend of declining numbers of commercially valuable demersal inshore fish species. The key pressures on this resource are intensive fishing pressure combined with rapid infrastructure development and increased marine pollution arising largely from population growth in the SAR.
• Hong Kong is dependent upon imports of agricultural products and fish. For example the SAR provides only 14% of its fresh vegetable requirement locally and 61% of the marine fish consumption demand. Pond culture utilises 1,475 ha of fish ponds which yielded around 5,000 tonnes of freshwater fish in 1997, or 12% of Hong Kong's consumption that year. Mariculture occupies 209 hectares of sea area which yielded nearly 3,000 tonnes of live marine fish in 1997. The SAR's large demand for live marine fish is also thought to be perpetuating the use of destructive fishing techniques in countries which catch and supply these fish.

Overexploitation of Hong Kong's local marine fisheries resources has resulted in catches which are small, of low value and mainly contain immature "trash fish" species. The large demand for fish in Hong Kong, both live and chilled, has also contributed to the depletion of South China Sea and South East Asian fish stocks. Existing fishing practices, if unchecked, will lead to further depletion of natural capital stock and eventual economic non-viability for the industry. Government initiatives that include artificial reef deployment, designation of Marine Parks and Reserves, and the introduction of licenses for Hong Kong fishermen offer opportunities for longer term rehabilitation of this resource which, once achieved, can then be managed in a sustainable way. However, for the natural capital stock to be enhanced and maintained over the long term, sufficient incentives, resources and regulatory powers will have to be vested in the organisations responsible for its management.