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Expenditure on environmental protection
Following is a question by the Hon Ambrose Lau Hon-chuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
It is learnt that the annual growth rate in expenditure of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been on the decrease since 1994-95, with the result that the overall government expenditure on environmental protection has dropped to a rate of 0.56% of the territory's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1996/97. This figure is much lower than that in certain developed countries which stands at an annual rate of 1% to 2% of their GDP, and is even lower than that in mainland China which stands at an annual rate of 0.6%. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council:
Reply:
(a)
(b)
Mr President,
(a)
of the reasons for the decrease in the annual growth rate in EPD's expenditure in recent years; and
whether it will consider following the examples of the United States and European countries by allocating more resources for the implementation of projects lasting for 5 years or more, so as to concentrate research work on individual items such as water quality, the air and the soil; and whether it will further consider requiring that environmental issues be taken into account when formulating policies, so that environmental protection work can be undertaken more effectively, thereby improving the quality of life in our society?
The expenditure of EPD since 1994-95 is as follows:
Year
1994-95 (Actual)
1995-96 (Revised Estimate) 1996-97 (Approved Estimate)
$ million
% of increase over previous year
1,309.1
48.9
1,674.8
27.9
1,848.1
10.3