XN000022-1993-06-10 — Page 11

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THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1993

US

THREE, PREVENTING POLLUTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WANT TO LOOK IMAGINATIVELY AT WAYS OF CUTTING DOWN ON POLLUTION, AT WASTE MINIMISATION, AT TIGHTER EMISSION CONTROLS, AT BETTER PUBLIC EDUCATION.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS ARE AWARE THAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING THE SECOND REVIEW OF THE 1989 WHITE PAPER ON THE ENVIRONMENT LATER THIS YEAR.

THIS WILL BE A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. I WANT US TO USE IT TO CHART AN ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA TO TAKE HONG KONG INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, AND TO BUILD ON THE GREEN FOUNDATIONS THAT WERE LAID IN THE 1989 WHITE PAPER. WE USED THAT WHITE PAPER TO TACKLE THE URGENT LEGACY OF YEARS OF NEGLECT AND DECLINE. NOW WE MUST MOVE ON, AND WORK TOGETHER GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, THE COMMUNITY - TO GIVE HONG KONG A WORLD CLASS ENVIRONMENT TO MATCH THE WORLD CLASS CITY WE HAVE BECOME. I WILL WANT TO SAY MORE ABOUT THIS IN MY POLICY ADDRESS

TO THIS COUNCIL IN OCTOBER.

THERE IS ONE DIMENSION THAT I HAVEN'T MENTIONED, AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION WITH GUANGDONG. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS KNOW NO BOUNDARIES. THEY REQUIRE REGIONAL SOLUTIONS. THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS HAS ESTABLISHED A LINK WITH HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER IN GUANGDONG AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE TOGETHER. I HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN GUANGDONG ON THESE MATTERS IN THE FUTURE. WITHOUT EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION, THE VALUE OF OUR OWN EFFORTS WOULD BE SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED.

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AS A COMMUNITY

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WE ARE

RIGHTLY PROUD OF OUR BCONOMIC SUCCESS. FOR SOME IN OUR COMMUNITY IT HAS BROUGHT GREAT LUXURY, BUT IF WE WERE TO CARRY ON AS IF THE ENVIRONMENT DIDN'T MATTER, IT WOULD BE A LUXURY THAT NONE OF US COULD AFFORD.

GOVERNMENT CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAVE A MAJOR STRUGGLE ON THEIR HANDS. THEY WILL NEED THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND CLEANING UP OUR ACT WILL REQUIRE SOME SACRIFICE. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DOES NOT COMB CHEAPLY. IT IS RIGHT AND FAIR THAT THOSE WHO POLLUTE MORE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE,

IN TRUTH, WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO TRY EVEN HARDER TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT; ABOVE ALL, IN HONG KONG, WHERE SIX MILLION OF US SHARE A SPECK OF THE PLANET WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH AS MANY VISITORS

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BACH YEAR.

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I HOPE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL - AND OUR COMMUNITY OUTSIDE IT WILL GIVE EVERY SUPPORT TO THE CAMPAIGN TO MAKE HONG KONG A CLEANER, BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN TODAY AND FOR HONG KONG'S CHILDREN TO TOMORROW.

INHERIT

/FOLLOWING IS