should all work together to help solve the problem. People have said to me that they would not object to making some modest contribution themselves, provided they were convinced that the Territory's appalling water pollution problems would be properly sorted out as a result. But it would be unfair for the burden to fall primarily on ordinary families. So the Government's proposal is that the contribution made by individual households should indeed be modest. We will be looking in more detail at these financing arrangements over the period ahead and, in due course, consulting widely on them.
71. It is clearly important that the Government itself should also show its commitment to solving this problem in a fair and reasonable way. I am proposing, therefore, that the Government should contribute not less than $3 billion from its Capital Investment Fund to enable the strategy to get off the ground quickly. This injection will reduce very considerably the level of charges that would otherwise be necessary. I want to emphasise that the first $7.3 billion phase of the sewage strategy, on which we are embarking, can and will be financed by Hong Kong before 1997; further development of the strategy will be a matter for the Government of the SAR in the years beyond. I believe that by working together in the way I have described, Government, industry and the community at large will be able to clean up our waters and make our ambitious sewage strategy a reality. I shall be looking for support from all who are seriously committed to a cleaner, greener Hong Kong in carrying this through.
72. There are, of course, other things we can do to improve the state of Hong Kong's environment. I am determined, for example, that the Government should set a good, green example. I want concern for our environment to enter every corner of Government. One action I have asked to be taken with immediate effect is for an environmental impact assessment to be included in papers submitted to the Executive Council. Currently, this rule applies only to major development projects. From now on, I want this practice to be extended to all policy proposals where there is likely to be a significant cost or benefit to the environment. Where there is likely to be little or no impact, that must be clearly stated.
73. I have asked my officials to look at other environmental initiatives in the coming months. I also want to talk further to those outside
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