The Council for Sustainable Development's report on improving air quality will be issued early next year, and the Environment Bureau says due consideration will be given to it when formulating the long-term way forward.

Welcoming the views expressed at today's Air Summit organised by the council, the bureau said stakeholders have had a constructive and dynamic dialogue in reviewing and consolidating views gathered during the engagement process on better air quality. The bureau will consider their recommendations, especially their practicality.

The bureau said some of the recommendations already have been included in the Chief Executive's Policy Address, including a five-year programme to help and encourage Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta region to adopt cleaner production technologies and processes, a proposal to legislate against idling vehicles with running engines and the injection of $1 billion into the Environment & Conservation Fund for educational, environmental protection and conservation activities.

Better air benefits

On concerns about financial implications, Council for Sustainable Development Strategy Sub-committee Chairman Otto Poon said better air quality will improve public health reducing public medical costs. Overseas experience also shows this can encourage new environmental industries and stimulate the economy.

"From a higher perspective there is a close relationship between air pollution and climate change. While we are improving air quality we can also make some contributions towards alleviating global warming," he said.

Concluding the public engagement process and today's summit, Mr Poon said the results show consensus on the following:

* Hong Kong needs an improved alert system and more active response on high air pollution days including mandating measures to reduce polluting activities;

* road pricing as a tool to combat air pollution will become a reality - the challenge is how to apply the 'polluter pays' principle equitably and fairly;

* Hong Kong's current consumption patterns are not sustainable. Not implementing demand side management to reduce energy use (and thereby reduce emissions) is not an option. The city must put in place mandatory policies to support and shape behavioural change.

Mr Poon said he hopes Hong Kong can act as a role-model in dealing with air quality issues.