The People’s Policy Address announced
Press Release
14th October 2020
Missing Policy Address, Missing (Green Recovery) Policies
The People’s Policy Address announced
The civic groups expressed disappointment to the delay of the announcement of the CE Policy Address and emphasized the importance of Green Recovery in Hong Kong for the long-term well-being of the general public.
World’s economies experienced strong set back under COVID-19. Study conducted by the Oxford University compared green stimulus projects with traditional stimulus, such as measures taken after the 2008 global financial crisis, and found green projects create more jobs, deliver higher short-term returns per pound spent by the government, and lead to increased long-term cost savings.
Multiple advanced economies have announced ambitious Green Recovery measures. For example, Korea pledged HKD732 billion (USD 94.5 billion) to create 1.9 million new jobs by 2025 and place a particular emphasis on advancing digital technologies and boosting the green transition of key sectors, energy, housing, mobility, and industry. France invested HKD274 billion (€ 30 billion) on greening the economy, including encouraging bicycle use by building more cycle lanes and subsidising bike maintenance, providing financial incentives for drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles. improving energy-efficient renovation programmes for public buildings, offices and homes. Germany had dedicated HKD366 billion (€40 billion) to green projects, with a focus on green infrastructure including “the escalation of a global green hydrogen industry”. UK allocated HKD3.5 billion (£350 million) to cut emissions in heavy industry and drive economic recovery from coronavirus.
However, as part of the C40, a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change, the HKSAR Government was not pro-active or investing enough to advance environmental policies. In order to strengthen collective resilience against future crisis, including air pollution and climate change, etc, it is important for cities to develop Green Recovery plans to recover economically and socially while achieving longer lasting environmental and health well-being.
As such, Clean Air Network, Designing Hong Kong and Transit Jam jointly announced the recommendations on environment, public transport, and job openings, and seek immediate attention from the Government to respond to the public’s desire for sustainable Green Recovery policies.
Clean Air Network’s specific policy recommendations include:
- Formulate an ambitious “New Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong”
- Transform Franchised Bus Fleet to Zero Emission
- Strengthen Exposure Control to Minimize Health Risk
- Strengthen Control over Ship Emission
- Strengthen Control over Ozone
- Upgrade air monitoring infrastructure and reporting mechanism
- Decarbonize to respond to climate emergency
Media Contact
Patrick Fung
CEO of Clean Air Network
Tel：3971 0106 / 9834 8892
Email：patrick@hongkongcan.org
Lily Lai
Campaign Officer of Clean Air Network
Tel：3971 0106 / 6372 1430
Email：lilylai@hongkongcan.org
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