Chief Secretary Donald Tsang has been appointed to chair a special task force to establish and promote a sustainable, cross-sectoral approach to improve Hong Kong's environmental hygiene.

The task force will have its first meeting on May 6.

Named Team Clean, the task force will develop a coherent system and strategy for integrating and augmenting environmental hygiene improvement initiatives across all concerned Government bureaux and departments.

It will also determine the relative priorities of areas targeted for improvement action, marshalling wider community support, particularly that of the District Councils and Non-Government Organisations

In the coming three weeks, the task force will draw up a work plan of short-term measures and establish a sustainable system and a timeframe for implementing the medium-and-long-term initiatives.

Speaking on the task force, Mr Tsang said cleaning up Hong Kong is a long-term project and that participation by the whole community is essential to its success.

"Therefore, we will involve the community as far as possible and marshal the support of all bodies concerned in the various aspects of our work," he said.

Team Clean will comprise members from various Government departments and bureaux, including the Permanent Secretaries for Housing, Planning & Lands, Home Affairs, and Education & Manpower.

Other members will include the Directors of Home Affairs, Health, Food & Environmental Hygiene, Information Services, Buildings, Lands, Highways and Drainage Services.

Representatives of other Government departments will be co-opted into the team as and when required.