IntroductionThroughout the years, the population of Hong Kong has been increasing continuously, nearly seven millions until 2005, for various reasons

such as prolonged immigration from the Mainland China, constant replacement rate, etc. At the present, Hong Kong is one of the

cities with the densest population. In order to settle the large population, urbanization has become an important issue of the Hong Kong

government. However, at the same time, urbanization has caused different kinds of

environmental pollution in Hong Kong. Also, transport and housing problems must be

considered.

Urban planningUrban planning To settle the increasingly To settle the increasingly

large population, the Hong large population, the Hong Kong government has Kong government has started to develop a lot of started to develop a lot of new towns since 1970s. new towns since 1970s. Until now, near half of the Until now, near half of the total population of Hong total population of Hong Kong is living in these new Kong is living in these new towns. Besides, the urban towns. Besides, the urban areas, which have a long areas, which have a long history of development, history of development, are also carrying a large are also carrying a large population. However, as population. However, as the living condition of the living condition of these areas is poor, these areas is poor, implementing urban implementing urban renewal has become an renewal has become an important issue.important issue.

RedevelopmentRedevelopment

Redevelopment requires pulliRedevelopment requires pulling down old and ruined buildng down old and ruined building and planning the way laning and planning the way land is to be used in the area. It ad is to be used in the area. It aims at improving the living enims at improving the living environment at the renewal sitevironment at the renewal sites. The example of redevelops. The example of redevelopment is the ment is the 8 Waterloo Road 8 Waterloo Road completed in late 2004, whiccompleted in late 2004, which is a commercial and residenh is a commercial and residential redevelopment in Yaumattial redevelopment in Yaumateiei..

Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is to prevent the dRehabilitation is to prevent the decay of the built environment by ecay of the built environment by promoting and facilitating the prpromoting and facilitating the proper repair and maintenance of oper repair and maintenance of buildings. Rehabilitation will extbuildings. Rehabilitation will extend the useful life of buildings to end the useful life of buildings to alleviate the urgency of redeveloalleviate the urgency of redevelopment. The Authority promotes pment. The Authority promotes and assists in the maintenance oand assists in the maintenance of building by individual owners. f building by individual owners. The example of rehabilitation isThe example of rehabilitation is 250-254 Reclamation Street, Ya250-254 Reclamation Street, Yau Ma Tei, u Ma Tei, which was built 1972. Twhich was built 1972. The construction was completed ihe construction was completed in February 2004. n February 2004.

After rehabilitationAfter rehabilitation

Revitalization Revitalization

Revitalization is the deployment of apprRevitalization is the deployment of appropriate means of renewal to revive and sopriate means of renewal to revive and strengthen the economic and environmetrengthen the economic and environmental fabric of different districts. The exantal fabric of different districts. The example of revitalization is Sheung Wan Fonmple of revitalization is Sheung Wan Fong which is under progress. g which is under progress.

PreservationPreservation Preservation is an important Preservation is an important

principle of urban renewal in principle of urban renewal in Hong Kong to preserve the uHong Kong to preserve the unique cultural heritage. Buildinique cultural heritage. Buildings with Historical, cultural angs with Historical, cultural and architectural value are prend architectural value are preserved. The local colour and cserved. The local colour and character of different districts haracter of different districts will also be retained. The exawill also be retained. The example of preservation is 18 Shimple of preservation is 18 Ship Street in Wan Chai which wp Street in Wan Chai which was built in 1930s.as built in 1930s.

Building Environmentally Friendly apartments

In recent years, the government has been encouraging land developers to build environmentally friendly apartments. Such apartments may have balconies, wider common corridors and lift lobbies, communal sky gardens, etc. the government also suggests construction companies to use more renewable sources.

Conserving the CountrysideConserving the Countryside

Country parks provide Country parks provide recreational and recreational and educational resources educational resources for the public. They also for the public. They also contribute to the contribute to the objective of nature and objective of nature and landscape conservation.landscape conservation.

Transport Problems

Hong Kong's roads are among the most heavily used in the world. There are about 270 licensed vehicles for every kilometre of road. While Government has been expanding the road and railway transport infrastructure to cope with the increasing travel demand for economic, social and leisure needs, it is becoming more and more difficult, expensive and environmentally unfriendly to implement such new projects. In other to relieve the traffic congestion, the government has developed vast transport networks.

Area Traffic Control SystemsArea Traffic Control Systems

Route 8 ( Tsing Yi---Cheung Sha Wan---Sha Route 8 ( Tsing Yi---Cheung Sha Wan---Sha

Tin)Tin) Route 8 is a high-capacity trunk road linkinRoute 8 is a high-capacity trunk road linkin

g Lantau Island, Kwai Ching, West Kowloon g Lantau Island, Kwai Ching, West Kowloon and the Northeast New Territories. and the Northeast New Territories.

The link of Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin is The link of Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tin is expected to completed in August 2007 .expected to completed in August 2007 .

The link of Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan is The link of Tsing Yi and Cheung Sha Wan is expected to completed in December 2008.expected to completed in December 2008.

The section between Cheung Sha Wan anThe section between Cheung Sha Wan and Sha Tind Sha Tin

The section between Tsing Yi and CheunThe section between Tsing Yi and Cheun

g Sha Wang Sha Wan

Pedestrianization

(I) Full-time Pedestrian Street (Paterson Sreet )

(II) Part-time Pedestrian Street (Sai Yeung Choi Street South )

(III) Traffic Calming Street

(1)Air Pollution(1)Air Pollution

Air pollution can be classified into two types:

(a) Local Street-level Pollution

(b) Regional Smog Problem

Measures dealing with vehiclesMeasures dealing with vehicles

(a)(a) Incentive schemes (replacing diesel light Incentive schemes (replacing diesel light buses with LPG or electric light buses with LPG or electric light buses buses ,etc.),etc.)

(b)(b) Increasing penalty ( from $450 to $1,000Increasing penalty ( from $450 to $1,000 ))

(c)(c) Kicking off campaign (“switching off Kicking off campaign (“switching off engines while waiting" )engines while waiting" )

Improvement

In 2005, emissions of particulates and nitrogen oxides from motor vehicles have been reduced by about 80% and 40% respectively

Particulates and nitrogen oxides levels on the street have dropped by 14% and 17% respectively since 1999

The number of smoky vehicles on the road has also reduced by about 80%.

Measures dealing with Measures dealing with stationary sourcesstationary sources

(a)(a) Limiting the emissions of air pollutants of Limiting the emissions of air pollutants of power stationspower stations

(b)(b) Encouraging power stations to use Encouraging power stations to use resources which is more environmentally-resources which is more environmentally-friendlyfriendly

(c)(c) Recommend setting air-conditioning Recommend setting air-conditioning temperature at 25.5 degrees Celsius in temperature at 25.5 degrees Celsius in summersummer

Regional Smog ProblemRegional Smog Problem

Cooperation between Hong Kong Cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdongand Guangdong

In terms of total emissions, Hong Kong acIn terms of total emissions, Hong Kong accounts for about 5% to 20% of regional air counts for about 5% to 20% of regional air pollution while the PRD accounts for 80% tpollution while the PRD accounts for 80% to 95% o 95%

Hong Kong and Guangdong are necessarHong Kong and Guangdong are necessary to join together.y to join together.

Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality ManaPearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plangement Plan

Water PollutionWater Pollution

The number of beaches meeting the WateThe number of beaches meeting the Water Quality Objective for bathing water was r Quality Objective for bathing water was only 24 in 1995. The number of river mononly 24 in 1995. The number of river monitoring stations with bad or very bad wateitoring stations with bad or very bad water quality was 52% in 1988. Like other majr quality was 52% in 1988. Like other major cities in the world, Hong Kong is workior cities in the world, Hong Kong is working diligently to improve its water quality. ng diligently to improve its water quality. Our pollutants come from human and inOur pollutants come from human and industrial sources and livestock farms, and dustrial sources and livestock farms, and programmes are underway to reduce pollprogrammes are underway to reduce pollution loads. ution loads.

The Harbour Area Treatment ScheThe Harbour Area Treatment Schememe

Stage 1 has not resulted Stage 1 has not resulted in uniformly better water in uniformly better water quality quality

In stage 2A, disinfection In stage 2A, disinfection would be introduced at would be introduced at the Stonecutters plantthe Stonecutters plant and deep tunnels and deep tunnels would be builtwould be built

In stage 2B, building In stage 2B, building biological treatment biological treatment facilities would be facilities would be introducedintroduced

The routes of tunnelsThe routes of tunnels

Other measuresOther measures

(a)(a) Polluter pays ( from $11 per Polluter pays ( from $11 per month to $30 per month )month to $30 per month )

(b)(b) Villages Sewage WorksVillages Sewage Works

(c)(c) Regional Collaboration with Regional Collaboration with GuangdongGuangdong

Waste PollutionWaste Pollution

Over the past nine years muniOver the past nine years municipal solid waste loads have icipal solid waste loads have increased by about three per cncreased by about three per cent annually while the populent annually while the population has grown on average bation has grown on average by only 0.9 per cent. The three y only 0.9 per cent. The three existing landfills (Nim Wan, Tsexisting landfills (Nim Wan, Tseung Kwan O and Ta Kwu Lineung Kwan O and Ta Kwu Ling) are under enormous pressg) are under enormous pressure. In early 2005, it was estiure. In early 2005, it was estimated the three existing landmated the three existing landfills would be full in six to 10 yfills would be full in six to 10 years. ears.

MeasuresMeasures

(I)(I) The separation The separation of wastesof wastes

(II)(II) Charging for Charging for wastes wastes disposaldisposal

ConstructionConstruction

A low-level radioactive wA low-level radioactive waste storage facility was aste storage facility was commissioned on Siu A commissioned on Siu A Chau in 2005, enabling tChau in 2005, enabling the waste to be moved ohe waste to be moved out of urban areas. Its storut of urban areas. Its storage capacity is estimateage capacity is estimated to be sufficient to accod to be sufficient to accommodate existing and fummodate existing and future waste arisings in Hoture waste arisings in Hong Kong for the next 100 ng Kong for the next 100 years. years.

Noise PollutionNoise Pollution

Poor planning in the past and cramped Poor planning in the past and cramped development have resulted in noise development have resulted in noise pollution. The growth in the economy pollution. The growth in the economy during the 1980s and 90s, which brought during the 1980s and 90s, which brought more construction and more traffic, has more construction and more traffic, has also contributed to the noise problem. One also contributed to the noise problem. One million people are affected by excess traffic million people are affected by excess traffic noise alone, making it the biggest noise noise alone, making it the biggest noise problem in the SAR. Traffic noise problem in the SAR. Traffic noise construction noise and aircraft noise are construction noise and aircraft noise are the main noise pollutionthe main noise pollution

Ways to relieve traffic NoiseWays to relieve traffic Noise

(1)(1) Building BarriersBuilding Barriers

(2)(2) Building buffer zonesBuilding buffer zones

(3)(3) Building enclosuresBuilding enclosures

(4)(4) Apply low-noise surfacesApply low-noise surfaces