Switching off: The public will be asked to give their views on whether there should be laws against idling engines.

Apart from economic benefits, Chief Executive Donald Tsang says, Hong Kong should strive for benefits to culture, the society and the environment. His Policy Address sets out ways to make the city cleaner and greener.

"Governments around the world have to formulate measures to strike a balance between economic development and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with a view to achieving sustainable development," he said.

"We should do our part to improve the regional environment. We have been taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. From 1995 to 2005, the energy intensity in Hong Kong, that is, energy consumed per unit of GDP, dropped 13%."

He welcomed the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Leaders' Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security & Clean Development recently adopted in Sydney. As an APEC member, he said Hong Kong will honour its pledge and seek to achieve a reduction in energy intensity of at least 25% by 2030, with 2005 as the base year.

The Government will raise public awareness of climate change and introduce energy- saving measures. It will also seek public views on the proposed mandatory implementation of the Building Energy Codes through legislation.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Government will set an example by conducting a carbon audit and implementing an emissions-reduction campaign in the new Central Government Complex at Tamar.

While the two power companies have provided a reliable energy infrastructure over they years, they are the major local source of air pollution. The Government is still negotiating with them over a new regulatory regime that it aims to put it in place by the end of the year.

"We seek to improve local air quality through linking the power companies' permitted rate of return to their achievement of emission caps. At the same time, the new regulatory arrangements must benefit the public through the lowering of electricity tariffs," Mr Tsang said.

The Government is also introducing cleaner vehicle fuels and improving the quality of industrial and power-generation fuels. The Chief Executive is confident that with the progressive installation of desulphurisation equipment and the adoption of cleaner fuels in local power plants, the 2010 emissions reduction targets set jointly with the Guangdong Provincial Government can be achieved.

He outlined four other measures that could tackle the poor air quality:

* the Government proposes to legislate on replacing industrial diesel with ultra low sulphur diesel in all industrial and commercial processes;

* it will require motorists to switch off idling vehicle engines, subject to public consultation;

* it will study the feasibility of requiring all vessels plying the harbour to use high-quality fuel; and

* it will also re-examine the option of road pricing using new high technology.

"The people of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region breathe the same air under the same sky. Regional co-operation is vital to develop Hong Kong into a green metropolis. To encourage Hong Kong enterprises in Guangdong to play their part to improve the regional environment, I will ask the Legislative Council to approve funding of $93 million for the Hong Kong Productivity Council to launch a five-year programme," Mr Tsang said.

It will help and encourage Hong Kong-owned factories within the PRD region to adopt clean production technologies and processes, enabling them to reduce emissions, enhance energy efficiency - and improve their competitiveness and corporate image..

Protected green space still accounts for 40% of the land in our city, Mr Tsang said, with country parks covering 417 square kilometres. Now the Government will initiate the statutory procedures to designate the 24th country park, on Northern Lantau, increasing the total country park area to 440 square kilometres.

"The Government will also push ahead with greening work in densely populated urban areas. The greening master plans developed for Tsim Sha Tsui and Central are being implemented. The Development Bureau will continue to pursue the development and implementation of such plans for the remaining districts of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and actively study the possibility of developing them for the New Territories. Meanwhile, in the New Territories, the Government will give priority to beautification works along the Tuen Mun River," Mr Tsang said.

Recognising public concerns about the "wall effect" caused by high-density buildings, which affects ventilation and leads to a rise in temperature, he said a slight reduction of development density can increase the distance between buildings and upgrade building design, improving ventilation.

The Government will review district outline zoning plans and, where justified, lower the development density. It  will also review the approved schemes of above-station property development projects at the Nam Cheong Station and the Yuen Long Station along the West Rail, with a view to lowering their development densities.

Such measures will lead to a reduction in public revenue, Mr Tsang said, but it is well worth the better living environment that will be created.

$1b fund injection

The Policy Address proposes injecting  $1 billion into the Environment & Conservation Fund for educational, research and technology demonstration projects and environmental protection and conservation activities.

The fund will help encourage community participation and promote educational work to raise the public's environmental awareness. It will also be used to encourage organisations to carry out greening work on rooftops and podiums for environmental benefits and to set an example for the community.

International exchanges and experience sharing on environmental protection policies and technological research can also tap the fund.

Tackling waste management

Another challenge is to find effective ways to tackle solid waste management such as implementing the "polluter-pays" principle to achieve waste reduction at source by inducing people to change their living habits, and encourage recovery and recycling.

The Product Eco-responsibility Bill will be introduced in the Legislative Council to provide a legal framework for implementing producer responsibility schemes. This includes the environmental levy on plastic shopping bags proposed earlier that has gained public support.

The Chief Executive said the three existing landfills in Hong Kong will run out of space within the next few years. He would like Hong Kong to adopt modern incineration facilities as they have in other parts of the world.

"By using advanced technology, we can reduce the amount of solid waste sent to landfills which will minimise the impact on the surrounding environment. In addition to the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A, we will also build sludge-treatment facilities to avoid dumping huge volumes of sludge at landfills. These facilities will substantially expand our waste-treatment capacity and ensure the sustainable development of Hong Kong."