Views regarding The Mitigation of Air Pollution - p.1

1. We note the 3rd paragraph of the Foreword Section (#1) of the Invitation and Response Document (hereafter refer to as the Consultation Document) states that:
“In the current round of public engagement, we will be focusing on an issue of major concern – air quality. It affects everyone and plays an important part in determining the quality of our living environment. While air quality in Hong Kong has become an emotive issue for many, we should not let these emotions mask the need for real and meaningful dialogues to identify the most viable choices for Hong Kong.”

With due respect, we DISAGREE that air quality in Hong Kong has become an emotive issue. If it was, it must have been the result of our top government officials provoking the public with totally uninformed speeches or the failure on the part of our government in properly addressing the issue so that a fair and accurate view could not be adequately presented for public knowledge.

2. Pollution problems are basically scientific (technological) and moral problems. Scientifically, we could trace the current air pollution problems to their linkage to the industrial revolution in the 18th century when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation had a profound effect on socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain. It subsequently spread throughout the world with the undesirable by-product of generating and aggravating the earth’s pollution burden. Morally, it can be seen that the extensive scales of the problems are the result of greed, selfishness, incompetence and a lack of foresight on the part of the advocators and enterprenuers advancing industrialisation without due regard to ecology and social responisibility.

3. However, we do agree with Mr. Rafael HUI, Chairman of Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) that we should all work together for the well-being of our future generations, which is built upon every effort we contribute to the sustainable development of our home city. For this reason, we would like to forward our views on the Consultation Document.

[Next Page]