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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, in the motion debate on 'Local Agenda 21 and sustainable development' in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

Madam President,

Sustainable development concerns the well being not only of this generation, but also of the many generations that will inherit the legacy that we are creating for them today. I welcome this debate as an opportunity to stimulate discussion on this important subject. The administration supports the aspiration implicit in Ms Choy's motion.

The term 'sustainable development' has in recent months become more familiar to people worldwide, due largely to the high profile and media reporting of the World Summit that took place in Johannesburg in August and September this year. However, recognising the term does not imply proper understanding of what it means.

For example, many tend to equate the term 'sustainable development' exclusively with environmental protection or conservation of natural resources. This is perhaps understandable, since sustainable development as a policy prescription started in earnest at the "Earth Summit" organized by the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. And that Summit was very much concerned with issues such as climate change, preservation of natural habitats and depletion of the ozone layer. Even at this year's World Summit in Johannesburg, a 'sustainable society' is one in which we respect the balance of our natural environment. But these important international meetings tell us that sustainable development means much more.

Today, an internationally accepted definition of sustainable development is essentially that outlined by the World Commission on Environment and Development in its 1987 report, entitled 'Our Common Future', namely -

"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

In this context, sustainable development demands that we seek better ways of living and working that enable us to lead healthy, fulfilling, economically secure lives, while preserving the environment and the future welfare of our people. In short, it is about improving the quality of lives for ourselves and future generations.

We recognise without reservation the need for a sustainable approach to Hong Kong's development. In 1997, we began to study in earnest how best we might build a framework for the long-term sustainable development of Hong Kong. In his 1999 Policy Address, the Chief Executive outlined his vision of Hong Kong as a world-class city. He announced specific steps that would be taken to pursue our long-term development in a sustainable manner. These included the setting up of a dedicated unit within the Government to oversee the integration of sustainability into new government policies; establishing an advisory council to advise the Government on key issues related to sustainable development; and setting aside a $100 million fund to support community initiatives in this field.

In April 2001, following the completion of an in-depth study and consultation with this Council, we established the Sustainable Development Unit (known as "SDU" for short) within the Government under my Office. The SDU immediately began work on putting in place a system whereby all new government policies and initiatives would be assessed for their compliance with the principles of sustainable development. This system took full effect in late 2001. From April this year, it has become an integral part of our policy planning and formulation processes in that all proposals put to the Executive Council must also explain and justify their long-term sustainability. The same requirement applies to submissions to the recently established Policy Committee.

As well as implementing and monitoring the sustainability assessment system, the SDU also organises regular training courses and workshops for government staff involved in the policy and project planning process. This helps to ensure a wider understanding and proper application within the Government of the general principles of sustainable development.

It is essential to instil a sense of the importance of sustainability among our colleagues in the Government. But we face a much greater challenge in putting this important message across to the wider community. While there are many in the non-government sector - including our Honourable Members, NGOs, the academic and business sectors - all who are well aware of the meaning and significance of sustainable development, it is not an easy concept to impress upon the general public.

I am very grateful for the attendance of about nearly three dozen Honourable Members here while I speak. But a little while ago, it seems a rather difficult task to summon enough enthusiasm to have more than a dozen members never mind of the poor quorum, remaining in this Chamber to participate in the debate and listen to some excellent speeches made by Members. This makes some very emotional and heartfelt statements which I heard just now made by these Honourable Members somewhat hollow in this Chamber but the administration supports Honourable Member Choy So-yuk's mission and all of us must try harder.

During the past year, the SDU has begun the task of promoting in the community the meaning and the importance of sustainability. The Unit has issued publications and reports, organised roving exhibitions and has taken part in a range of forums and seminars aimed at explaining and exploring this issue at varying levels of understanding.

In June this year, we hosted an international symposium on the theme of "Sustainability and the City". A number of distinguished international and local speakers, including Honourable Members of this Council, exchanged views on ways to build a sustainable future for Hong Kong. As part of this symposium, the SDU sponsored an interactive workshop. Stakeholders from various sectors in the community discussed in depth the priority issues that we need to address in developing a sustainable society in Hong Kong. The workshop concluded with ten priority issues. To name a few, they are education, social fabric enhancement and integrated planning. It is clear, therefore, that the key stakeholders in Hong Kong have a clear vision for a better future and are keen to share this with others if given the appropriate encouragement.

Madam President, in August and September this year, the United Nations held the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. We recognised the importance of this event and the opportunities that it offered to gain insight and experience into sustainable practices worldwide. To take advantage of this valuable forum, the Hong Kong SAR Government sent an eight-person team to the Summit as part of the delegation of the People's Republic of China. A report on the team's activities in Johannesburg, as well as their observations and conclusions is now available to the public. Honourable Members are welcome to access it through visiting our SDU website.

During the ten-day period of the Summit, our team was able to attend plenary sessions, side events, exhibitions and informal meetings. These activities have broadened team members' understanding of the ways in which we might further pursue sustainable development in our own community. We learnt first hand about the priorities of other countries and cities, many of which involved things that we in Hong Kong had taken for granted, such as the regular availability of clean water supplies, sanitary waste disposal systems and basic health and education services. We also learnt that each community had to define its own framework for establishing a viable and sustainable quality of life for its people. There is no universally accepted model for prescribing a sustainable development strategy or agenda.

This brings me specifically to the issue that the Honourable Choy So-yuk has put on the table this afternoon. That is, what, strategically, does sustainable development mean for Hong Kong, and what are the appropriate frameworks for defining and implementing the measures that we need to take to provide a better quality of life, not only for ourselves but for our future generations?

In his 1999 Policy Address, the Chief Executive suggested three areas for our pursuit of sustainable development for Hong Kong, namely -

(a) finding ways to increase prosperity and improve the quality of life while reducing overall pollution and waste;

(b) meeting our needs and aspirations without doing damage to the prospects of future generations; and

(c) reducing the environmental burden we put on our neighbours and helping to preserve common resources.

These broad guiding principles help to point us towards the direction we should take in building a sustainable future for Hong Kong. If we are to reach our destination, as well as setting the overall direction, we must also find the appropriate 'vehicle' to take us forward.

In 1992, the United Nations Agenda 21 called for all countries to develop their own national strategy or Agenda 21. In 1994, China became the first country to put a national Agenda 21 in place. Furthermore, as we have learnt from Johannesburg, quite a number of provinces, cities and even smaller communities in China have also started preparing their own Agenda 21 or sustainable development strategy. In Hong Kong, having championed the sustainable development cause for more than a year since the establishment of the SDU, we consider it timely to consider our own sustainability strategy or agenda.

As I mentioned earlier, we face a continuing challenge in raising the community and this Chamber's awareness of the issue of Hong Kong's sustainable development. In the current economic climate, it is difficult to expect our people to focus on long-term goals that have little immediate material benefits. More important, plotting a course for Hong Kong's sustainable future is not something that the Government can, or should, do alone. It is a fundamental tenet of the principle of sustainable development that the process of planning for an improved quality of life should be inclusive and driven by real and effective partnerships.

The United Nations Agenda 21 urges governments to -

'take measures to encourage and enable partnership and dialogue between local non-government organizations and local authorities in activities aimed at sustainable development.'

In the short time that the SDU has been in existence, we have already established meaningful partnerships with business, environmental and social service organisations in taking forward our sustainability projects and programmes. Such organisations possess the experience, the expertise and the capacity needed to engage the public in the debate about Hong Kong's long-term sustainability. Accordingly, their contributions have enhanced our own efforts to promote the concept and practice of sustainable development.

Drawing on our experience of partnership with non-government and business groups, and in line with the World Summit's emphasis on partnerships and participation in pursuing long-term sustainability, we will seek to involve members of the community extensively in developing our framework for pursuing sustainable development. I have already asked the SDU to start the preparatory work, with a view to devising an effective consultative mechanism that would be inclusive and embracing. We would also look forward to the support of Members of this Council and the community as a whole in taking forward this important task.

Before closing, I should add that we are fully aware of the public interest in seeing the early establishment of the Council for Sustainable Development. Through the new forum, stakeholders can provide feedback and advice to the Government on key issues of concern related to the sustainable development of Hong Kong. As I said to this Council two weeks ago in responding to a LegCo question, the Government remains committed to establishing such a forum. In this context, the Chief Executive is considering how the Council should feature and perform its functions under the Accountability System. I repeat my pledge that we shall make an announcement regarding this Council very shortly.

Madam President, I would like to emphasise one more time that it is vital to the cause of sustainable development that the community should have a clear understanding of the concept and be able to participate in formulating appropriate measures and put these measures into practice. I appreciate the views and opinions expressed by the Honourable Members this afternoon, and I see this debate as a useful part of a process of educating ourselves as to the real meaning of sustainable development. My colleagues and I look forward to this process continuing in the wider community. We need to develop a common and firm commitment to a sustainable future for us all.

Thank you.

End/Wednesday, October 23, 2002

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