Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa unveiled a host of environmental initiatives in his 2005 Policy Address today.

A policy will be formulated to provide concessions to assist the development of the environmental industry, and the Government plans to build a Recovery Park in Tuen Mun for exclusive use by the recycling industry. The first phase will be commissioned next year.

Mr Tung said Government departments will adopt a green procurement policy to help create a market for environmentally friendly products. It will also strengthen various reuse and recycling measures to effectively contain the rate of increase in solid waste.

"We will make it a policy to implement mandatory product responsibility schemes to ensure the recovery and recycling of the products concerned. In the long term, we need to consider the enactment of legislation on recycling to build a circular economy," he said.

Cutting emissions

To control air pollution, the Government will impose caps on the power companies' total emissions. Policy will also be drawn up requiring they maximise the use of natural gas in power generation and develop renewable energy.

"We will further strengthen co-operation with Guangdong Province to implement various emission reduction schemes and pollution control measures. Our specific target is for both sides to reduce by 2010 the emissions of four major pollutants to prescribed standards."

A Total Water Management policy will also be implemented. The Government is studying the latest technologies to desalinate seawater and reuse domestic effluent, with a view to increasing local water resources in the long term.

"We will extensively promote water conservation within the community. Heavy users of water will continue to pay higher charges."

Drain development

The Government has also identified 16 sections of nullah that can be improved, and has formulated a long-term plan to deck over them in phases. Eight will be completed in three years, four in six years and the rest in 10 years.

"Hong Kong people are increasingly concerned about environmental protection. Building a quality living environment has become the key to attracting talent from all over the world and realising sustainable development," Mr Tung said.