BREAKFAST WITH THE EPD

On Friday, I met with senior officials from the EPD. In brief, there were three takeaways, based on our exchange of notes. Whereas I reported on our campaign's progress, the EPD gave me an update on the status of the Government's 19 abatement initiatives:

1) The Government won't propose a subsidy to enable the passage of its 19-measure abatement package until it receives a "clear signal from the public" that the latter is ready to share some of the cost AND insists on contribution from all stakeholders, including the Government and polluters. Moreover, the EPD hopes that the public will signal its willingness to contribute to ALL aspects of clean-up -- not just buses, but ferries, the power sector, etc. Despite many surveys demonstrating that the public is ready to contribute, provided there is equitable cost-sharing, this message has yet to reach the inner ear of the Government. No doubt the Government prefers to turn a deaf ear until the public's demands become unmistakable, in order to avoid the difficult political task of opening up the treasury's purse. So, it looks like we have our work cut out for us in the next year: whereas before we were focused on putting the issue of air pollution on the radar of the HK public, it's now clear that we have adjust our message in this next phase of our campaign. THE COST OF CLEAN-UP WILL NOT BE FAIR UNLESS BORNE BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE GOVERNMENT AND POLLUTERS.

2) Regarding the curb of marine emissions in the Pearl River Delta, any joint Emissions Control Area with Guangdong would be subject to approval by the International Maritime Organization. To wit, ECAs in North America and the Baltic have been legislated as a matter of national sovereignty only. Thus, attempts to coordinate with regional environmental or maritime authorities in southern China are besides the point: success will require the buy-in of the Chinese central government.

3) The "leisure and recreational" ferries from HK to Macau are as polluting as the local passenger ferries. The EPD suggested that perhaps we could consider focusing some of our efforts on the clean-up of these services. After all, these passenger trips are "optional" when compared to the commuter services ferrying passengers to and fro work every day. Consequently, these recreational ferry services are not the subject of as much concern or regulation by the Government. Thus, left to their own devices, the HK-Macau ferry services are permitted to set fares, based on commercial factors only. Obvious implication: it is easier to retrofit or phase out old, polluting HK-Macau ferries and pass on the increase in operating expenses to passengers than to do the same to local ferry services. I will contact the EPD later for more information about the state of these leisure ferry craft and the emissions attributable to each service's fleet. But, for now, CAN will remain focused on the primary target of ROADSIDE emissions. In the big scheme of things, roadside emissions are something within the control of Hong Kong, which gravely impact health.