Green front: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau meets California Lieutenant-Governor John Garamendi (right), and Chair of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols.

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau has exchanged views on environmental issues with US officials and academics during his visit to the United States.

On the first day of his visit, Mr Yau met California Lieutenant-Governor John Garamendi to discuss environmental protection and then explained Hong Kong's environmental challenges at a luncheon.

Mr Yau also met Los Angeles Environmental Affairs Department Assistant General Manager, the Chair of the California Air Resources Board and professors of the Institute of the Environment at UCLA. Mr Yau was briefed on the city's implementation of air-pollution control programmes and efforts to tackle climate change.

At the Milken Institute, the secretary exchanged views with the think-tank experts on measures to reduce regional air pollution as well as the impact of environmental concerns on business decisions.