More time needed to reach consensus on clean air programme
Cheung Chi-fai
SCMP
Yesterday, the EPD unveiled the results of the public consultation on the Air Quality Objectives to Legco’s Panel on Environmental Affairs.
However, after nearly two years of consultancy study, and four months of public consultation that ended in November, environment officials are still no nearer to hammering out a clear road map on how Hong Kong should move towards better air quality.
Officials have told lawmakers that they have found diverse views in the community on both target-setting and measures required to achieve them, but did not say how these differences could be resolved or what steps could be taken to move forward, despite growing impatience in the community over lack of progress towards cleaner air.
There are a total of 19 measures proposed last year to reach a set of interim targets.
“The targets recommended by the Environment Bureau are described by clean air advocates as modest compared to World Health Organisation guidelines.”
“Among the 1,716 completed questionnaires received by the bureau during the public consultation, 1,182 were submitted through Clean Air Network and Greenpeace and the remainder from individuals. Fewer than 1% of the submissions made through the Clean Air Network and Greenpeace agreed to the proposed targets, compared to 67% of the individual submissions that agreed with the targets.”
Lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan said “After all these consultations, the Bureau should tell us how they are going to resolve the differences and what measures face the least political obstacles while bringing us the greatest benefits. But the government simply has no stance now,”
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Department will roll out on Thursday a HK$540 million one-off grant scheme to encourage Euro II diesel commercial vehicles owners to replace their vehicles with vehicles that comply with Euro IV emission standards.
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