The Council for Sustainable Development has chosen the themes of clean living environment and population policy in taking forward a new Sustainable Development Strategy engagement process in 2006.

Council Vice-Chairman Dr Edgar Cheng said the council will work closely with stakeholders and interested parties, and draw on their experiences in respective fields.

On the priority area of clean living environment, the council will set up a study group to address the more imminent needs, including:

* to compile a full picture of actions and efforts taken by the Government on the air-quality issue;

* to fill the current information gap between the Government and the community; and

* to identify scope for the community to contribute their views.

The study group will be chaired by the Council Vice-Chairman, with members drawn from the council and relevant Government agencies. It plans to complete its report in the second quarter of 2006.

Support group on population policy formed

The council's Strategy Sub-committee will take forward the engagement process for the priority area of population policy.

A new support group will be set up to assist in the preparation of a new invitation and response document and the rollout of the public involvement stage in 2006.

At today's meeting, the council also considered the Education & Publicity Sub-committee programmes and initiatives.

There were 43 submissions to the third round of Sustainable Development Fund applications. The sub-committee will review the applications, and plans to announce the results early next year.