Roundup: Hong Kong Marks World Environment DayRobert Footman, commissioner for transport of Hong Kong, rode on the first trip of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) minibus Monday, the World Environment Day.The minibus is one of the 11 LPG light buses and five electric light buses that started Monday to take part in a six-month trial aimed at finding clean fuel for buses to reduce emission of waste gas. Speaking after the ride, Footman said the LPG minibus was quiet and comfortable. "The government is committed to improving the environment through the use of cleaner fuel by public transport models," he said. The World Environment Day has been designated as Ride Green Day in Hong Kong, on which people are advised to give up driving their private cars and to pool their cars if driving is unavoidable. The World Environment Day received support from various sectors. The Chinese University of Hong Kong introduced its first environment-friendly shuttle bus, installed with diesel oxidation catalysts to reduce smoke emissions as the first of a series of new initiatives to preserve a clean and green campus. The university plans to install this device to all the shuttle buses and conduct a trial run of LPG mini-buses on the campus. The initiatives also include introduction of Green Office practices aiming to reduce waste generation by 40 percent in 10 years. The Joint Council of the Travel Industry of Hong Kong (JCTI) launched its "Don't Idle. Switch Off. Breathe Easy" campaign, which encourages drivers of tourism-related organizations and their suppliers to switch off the engine while they wait for passengers. The campaign is just one of a number of efforts tourism bodies in Hong Kong are making to protect the environment, said JCTI Chairman Philip Chen. "We feel it is important to mark the World Environment Day with an initiative of this kind. We want to show that our industry has a clear understanding of the importance of environmental awareness, " he noted. JCTI member organizations will continue to promote energy conservation, waste minimization and management, environmental supervision, staff education and sponsorship of local green groups, he said. Selina Chow, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourist Association, emphasized the significance of this type of effort and highlighted how "green" tourism activities are becoming increasingly popular. The World Environment Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1972. Each year, the U.N. Environment Program chooses a theme and the theme for the year 2000 is "the environment millennium - time to act." |
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