HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
香港立法局
——————————一九八九年十月十八日
18 October 1989
17
SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES: Sir, could I again defer to my colleague, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands?
SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS: Sir, I do not think I am going to be able to fully answer Mr. POON's question but I can say that the damage to the environment now is very much less than it used to be. And that is because most of the electricity generated in Hong Kong is generated either at Castle Peak or on Lamma at which very high chimneys were built and considerable thought was given as to what would happen to the flue. And that is, in fact, the major source of pollution which affects people's health. In future, as in the case of those two power stations, we will be extremely careful about how we site chimneys and power stations.
MR. EDWARD HO: Sir, is Government satisfied that encouragement for energy conservation is adequate and that it is not necessary for more positive measures, such as legislation, to be taken in addition to energy conservation in the design of buildings?
SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES: Sir, obviously, there is always scope to encourage further conservation of energy. In the case of buildings, I believe that as a result of a consultancy or working party study, we have concluded that there is greater scope for introducing additional energy-saving measures in buildings and I believe that we are considering the commissioning of a consultancy to consider how this can be achieved through legislation.
MR. McGREGOR: Sir, would the Secretary say whether the Government has any intention or plans at present, to use imported piped gas from the Chinese gas fields?
HIS HONOUR THE PRESIDENT: We seem to be straying rather off the point of the main question. But the Secretary for Economic Services may care to
comment.
SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES: Sir, I do not believe that current discussions with the Chinese on the supply of piped gas have yet reached a stage where it is practicable and realistic for the Government to consider this in consultation with the industry.