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Third Review of Environmental White Paper published
The Government is to develop a set of principles and indicators which will enable developments in Hong Kong to continue to thrive in a more environmentally friendly manner in the context of "sustainability".
This was announced today (Monday) by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, when he made public the Third Review of the Environmental White Paper first issued in 1989.
Mr Leung said: "These principles and indicators will help us to assess how sustainable are various development scenarios and to help us to monitor trends so that further action can be taken to reduce adverse impacts of these developments.
"The principles and indicators which will be proposed will need to be appropriate to Hong Kong. They will help focus attention, particularly that of decision-makers, on matters of concern and importance to the community at large."
Mr Leung said: "We will commission a consultancy study later in the year to help us draw up the principles and indicators and also a framework to promote sustainable development.
"The public will be consulted on the recommendations made in the study."
Mr Leung noted that the Third Review also reports on the progress of the Waste Reduction Study that will put forward recommendations to stimulate positive changes towards waste minimisation.
"Consultation with concerned parties is now in progress. We will consult the public at a later stage before we work out a Waste Reduction Plan to set our priorities for action."
The Third Review also deals with Government's commitment to formulate a comprehensive conservation policy to ensure better co-ordination with the new initiatives on sustainable development. Proposals in these areas will be firmed up by May 1996.
Other new commitments mentioned in the Review include a proposal to produce a public consultation paper on environmental education and a study on an eco-labelling scheme which will provide consumer information on the environmental merits of products.