Hong Kong

'Greens' fear cupboard will be bare in budget

By Timothy Chui (HK Edition)
Updated: 2010-02-18 06:30

Nearly two years into the economic meltdown, environmental groups are a little worried that environmental issues will be given much priority in this year's Hong Kong budget.

The greens expect their agenda will be set aside because of the pressing need to alleviate poverty.

Political scientist James Sung Lap-kung predicts a surplus this year and believes, the government is likely to introduce sweeteners for the underprivileged and working groups.

"In the coming months the chief executive will be looking to have a harmonious society as several problems, such as the 'referendum' and proposed constitutional reform will be coming to a head," he said.

"The working poor will be one key focus as the media, trade unions and political parties are complaining that there should be help for those earning around HK$4,000 a month," he said, adding there were no explicit measures for the two groups in the last two years.

Although poverty relief will be the government's prime focus, Sung said the CE should be keen to include environmental measures.

Greenpeace campaigner Pretince Koo Wai-muk was skeptical as to whether the budget would include the basket of measures anticipated in the 2008 budget - until the economic meltdown took precedence.

"We don't believe the government will release many measures covering the environment, because the major concern should be the territory's growing poverty problem and the scarcity of affordable housing," he said.

Even though the green group is not optimistic whether the government will roll out a subsidy program enabling people to buy more energy-efficient lights.

Even though the US is still bearing the brunt of the meltdown and facing a record HK$12.48 trillion deficit, President Barack Obama called for HK$304.2 billion in tax increases on fossil-fuel producers over the next decade along with an estimated HK$10.92 billion in aid for developing countries to shift to cleaner energy. The US budget also calls for a trebling of support for domestic nuclear energy including HK

HK$84,97 billion for the US' first nuclear reactors to break ground in almost 30 years. Although nothing on the scale of Obama's green measures were expected by president of Greensense Roy Tam Hoi-ping, he said the government could diversify its primary source of income from land sales to putting money into promoting recycling industries and the development of green products.

"Land sales make up the lion's share of government revenue, but this also encourages very dense development leading to wall effects. By moving away from this model, the government can pave the way for better city planning and more sustainable development while promoting fledging industries," he said.

The Conservancy Association is looking for a fund to buy up plots of private land in the New Territories to resolve a long-running dispute involving rural community landowners who have allowed waste dumping on protected tracts or near it, chief executive Ken So Kwok-yin said. "There have been a series of conflicts between conservationists and landowners, so one way to resolve the conflict is to have a conservation fund to purchase those lands, from private owners and arrange protection plans," Friends of the Earth Director Edwin Lau Che-feng said, adding, "some simpler measures the government could introduce in the budget could be more measures to enhance energy efficiency.

"Energy efficiency is one of the low-hanging fruits the government can capitalize on. It addresses local air pollution and wider climate change to have more reasonable energy use," he said. The city's glitzy advertisements, intense spotlighting along shopping avenues, permanently-lit offices and year-round air-conditioning are all examples of wastage that can be reduced if the owners are motivated, such as by incentives and tax breaks, Lau said.

Lau also said the government could introduce a rebate system for the public to encourage the purchase of energy efficient appliances. "If there are no government subsidies, people may not be very willing to do something, but if they see there are subsidies of, say, 10 to 20 percent, people will be attracted to purchasing cleaner equipment. Being the second biggest of pollutants in Hong Kong and with one-third of their fleets still running on more polluting outdated engine standards, the city's franchised buses also needed a major overhaul, Lau said.

These are the second largest contributors of pollutants in the city. One third of the fleet runs on outdated engines guilty of heavy emissions. La calls for subsidies to be extended to help franchised bus companies bring their fleets up to the latest green standard.

In its consultations with the government, think-tank Civic Exchange said one solution for Hong Kong's varied terrain and density was to implement a hodge podge of measures. These include ultra clean buses for dense urban areas, maintaining more cost effective diesel models for long haul routes.

The think tank also said hybrid buses, electric vehicles and expanded tram services would protect franchised bus companies and passengers from shocks in oil prices.

(HK Edition 02/18/2010 page1)