The Consumer Council will compare oil companies' retail fuel prices and discounts weekly later this year and release the data to help consumers make their choices, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau says.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Mr Yau said the Government also plans to disclose the import prices of fuel to help public understand the difference between retail and import prices.

If it is found fuel prices are indeed going up quickly but coming down slowly, the Government will consider further measures to protect the public incetest which may include tightening the fuel-price monitoring through the petrol station tendering process.

Clean air

On the city's air quality, Mr Yau said the Government is reviewing the air-quality objectives and is exploring ways to gradually increase the use of clean energy by, for example, increasing the proportion of natural gas for local power electricity generation.

He noted natural gas is more expensive than coal, though, and replacing coal-fired generation facilities with natural gas-fired equipment involves capital investment. That is why it is difficult to estimate how much the power tariff will rise when the proportion of natural gas for local power electricity generation increases. However, public participation in power saving will help reduce the cost.

When asked weather the recent dim economic outlook will affect the Government's investment in environmental protection, he said nearly $20 billion will be spent on environmental protection-related infrastructure projects in the coming five years.