Stronger measures on environment protection have been taken in Hong Kong over the past few years to curb smoke emission and water pollution, which proved to be effective.

According to an annual report issued by Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the concentrations of particulates and nitrogen oxides at the roadside had fallen by 13 percent and 23 percent respectively in 2003 in comparison with 1999.

In the foreword of the report, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao said that nearly all diesel taxis in Hong Kong had been replaced by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) ones and that about 80 percent of newly registered public light buses were running on LPG.

The government also planned to put nearly 20 billion HK dollars (2.57 billion US dollars) into its harbor area environment improvement projects in the next 10 years.

The projects, or the Harbor Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2, include the extension of the deep tunnel network, expansion of the existing chemical treatment capacity and provision of disinfection and building of the biological treatment facilities at a site near Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works.

HATS Stage 1 is now collecting and treating the sewage collected from the entire Kowloon, Tseung Kwan O and part of the Hong Kong Island including Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan.

Stage 1 has brought about considerable improvement to the water quality of Victoria Harbor, Sarah Liao said

"Despite that, we have to move on with Stage 2 to provide adequate protection to our harbor in the light of the anticipated growth in population and economic activities in the HATS catchments," she noted.

On waste reduction, the recycling rate of municipal solid waste registered an increase from 36 percent in 2002 to 41 percent in 2003, which was the largest yearly increase ever observed, according to the report on environment protection.

The government has also succeeded in reining in the growth in municipal solid waste disposed of at landfills for four consecutive years since 2000, which compares favorably with the 3.5 percent annual growth rate previously.

In December 2003, the Hong Kong government introduced a bill to the Legislative Council (Leg Co) for the implementation of a construction waste disposal charging scheme in line with the polluter-pays principle. The bill was passed by the Leg Co on July 2 this year.

"I firmly believe that environmental protection is in society's best interest," said Lam Kin-che, chairman of the Advisory Council of the Leg Co on the Environment.

Recent council meetings have discussed many issues as the success of pedestrianization in controlling air quality and whether to adopt new, cleaner alternative fuels.

"If there is a problem and we do not resolve it, then someone has to pay the cost, and ultimately people in the society have to pay the cost," said Lam.

Public awareness is vital to the success of protecting the environment and building a sustainable society, he added.

Lam said he is glad that the public is now more concerned aboutthe environment.

Editor: Olivia