Policy Address

Electric Vehicles

204.         Electric vehicles have zero tail-pipe emission, and their wider use will reduce roadside air pollution.  The number of electric vehicles has increased from less than 100 at the end of 2010 to nearly 4 000 now. 

205.        The Government will focus its efforts in promoting the use of electric vehicles in the public transport system, and has been working with the franchised bus companies to conduct trial runs of 36 electric single-deck buses within this year.  The Government will also upgrade more public chargers to medium-speed chargers, and support property management companies to install more charging facilities.

Nature Conservation

206.         The Government is now consulting the public on the formulation of the first Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Hong Kong, with a view to implementing enhanced measures on nature conservation and supporting sustainable development in the coming years.  The Government has earmarked additional resources to take forward the relevant initiatives, which include promoting awareness and knowledge of biodiversity among stakeholders and the general public, enhancing conservation of ecologically important areas and species, carrying out studies on biodiversity, and monitoring the biodiversity trends. 

207.         The Government is very concerned about the illegal poaching of elephants in Africa.  It will kick start legislative procedures as soon as possible to ban the import and export of elephant hunting trophies and actively explore other appropriate measures, such as enacting legislation to further ban the import and export of ivory and phase out the local ivory trade, and imposing heavier penalties on smuggling and illegal trading of endangered species.  Meanwhile, the Government will strengthen enforcement and take rigorous action against the smuggling and illegal trade in ivory.

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