HK Vows to Become Asia's Green Model for EnvironmentChief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee Hwa said on Monday that the government is aimed at making Hong Kong a green model for environmental improvement and a model of economic and social freedom as well."Perhaps central to all our efforts to develop Hong Kong are programs to improve our environment," Tung said at the opening ceremony of the 49th Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Annual Conference, which is being held here from May 1 to 3. "This is a matter of utmost importance. Without clean air and clean water we cannot fully achieve our goal of being a world city, " he added. In his third policy address last October, Tung set some ambitious targets for reducing air pollution by 2005, when Hong Kong's air quality will compare favorably with that of other major cities such as New York and London. "We are making massive investments in water pollution control --to help make the waterfront and harbor a central part of our leisure and recreational attractions --not just a fine view from a ferry or the Peak," he said. "And we aim to make Hong Kong even greener. Already 40 percent of Hong Kong is designated as country parks and we want to develop linkages between our urban parks and country landscapes to ensure that a strong and vibrant natural heritage enhances the vigor of our city life," Tung said. Some 1,200 delegates from 46 countries and regions are attending the conference, with most of them representing government tourism bodies, airlines and travel industry firms. |
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