XN000022-1992-11-22 — Page 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1992

BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE TO ENSURE FUTURE PROSPERITY

* * *

THE DIRECTOR OF

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION, DR STUART REED,

TODAY (SUNDAY) STRESSED THAT CHANGES MUST BE MADE TOWARDS BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE IN HONG KONG TO ENSURE FUTURE PROSPERITY.

"THERE IS A CLEAR LINK BETWEEN SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIES AND STRONG ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS JAPAN AND GERMANY ARE GOOD EXAMPLE," DR REED SAID.

"IT IS IN CONTRAST WITH THE WEAK ECONOMIES OF COUNTRIES IN EASTERN EUROPE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THERE ARE POOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS," HE SAID.

HE MADE THESE REMARKS WHEN OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FESTIVAL 1992 ORGANISED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

QUOTING A RECENT SPEECH OF BILL CLINTON, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES, DR REED SAID GERMAN WORKERS USE HALF THE ENERGY THAT THEIR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS USE TO PRODUCE THE SAME AMOUNT OF GOODS, AND JAPANESE COMPANIES GAIN A FIVE PER CENT COMPETITIVE PRICE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF HIGHER ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

"AND, OF COURSE, THE LESS ENERGY WE USE THE LESS THE POLLUTION WE GENERATE, DR REED SAID.

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IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHERE THE NEED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED, DISASTROUS RESULTS BOTH IN TERMS OF THE HEALTH AND THE WEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES ARE SEEN, HE SAID.

TO ACHIEVE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN JAPAN AND GERMANY, AND SOME OTHER COUNTRIES, LEADERSHIP BASED UPON AN APPRECIATION OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED IS REQUIRED, HE STRESSED.

DR REED REPEATED HIS CALL FOR BUSINESS TO INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING INTO THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE COMPANY CONCERNED.

AT THE

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR BUSINESS TO IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL MOST SENIOR LEVEL IN THEIR COMPANY AND TO GIVE HIM OR HER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT COMPANY'S ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE, HE SAID.

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"IT IS THIS SORT OF PROGRESSIVE ACTION THAT WILL SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL HONG KONG, HE SAID.

OF

ENSURE US IN

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