Improving Water Quality in the Harbour

69. Our spectacular Victoria Harbour is an internationally renowned icon of Hong Kong. It is our common responsibility to keep its water clean. To improve the harbour’s water quality, the Government is taking forward the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2 which, coupled with the improvement to all sewer facilities in Hong Kong, will tackle pollution at source. While the Government will bear the construction costs, the public has to pay for the operating costs of sewage treatment in line with the “polluter pays” principle.

70. In planning future development, we will achieve the objective of protecting and beautifying Victoria Harbour and pay particular attention to the vista on both sides of the harbour. Government departments will step up their co-operation to implement a sustainable greening programme for the urban areas. Our country parks and marine parks, which together cover an area of 44 000 hectares will be effectively protected. For selected ecologically important areas, we will, as a priority, carry out a pilot scheme involving management agreements and public-private partnership. Under this scheme, land owners will participate voluntarily and non-governmental organisations will provide the funding for conservation work.