Forward thinking: Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and Chief Secretary Donald Tsang join other delegates to the UN forum before giving their addresses.

One of the most demanding challenges Hong Kong faces in implementing sustainable development is to effect a change of mindset that would encourage our citizens to think in terms of real longer-term benefits for our quality of life.

Speaking at the opening of the United Nations Sustainable Development Leadership Forum at the Convention & Exhibition Centre this morning, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa noted that Hong Kong's future depends on "finding a proper balance between the creation of wealth, equal opportunities for our citizens and a respect for our natural and cultural heritage."

He added: "Big cities are characterised by noise, by dense human and vehicular traffic, by the voracious consumption of goods and resources, and by gaps between lifestyles enjoyed by the rich and the poor. In such an environment, it is only natural that people tend to be more concerned with immediate problems and possibilities than with ensuring the sustainable viability of our society for the benefit of future generations."

Asia's world city not just an economic powerhouse

While Hong Kong will continue to encourage investment and growth and do all it can to flourish economically, Mr Tung said he recognises there is more to being Asia's world city.

"Increasingly, we, the Government must consider the aspiration of our society which is demanding that better attention be given to other aspects of life, beyond the creation of economic opportunities and the accumulation of material wealth," he said.

Sustainable public health, education to equip ourselves for a knowledge-based society, the preservation of our cultural heritage, availability of services for an aging population are all important concerns.

Sustainable development considered for all new proposals

In recent years, Mr Tung said, the Hong Kong Government has sought gradually to make sustainable development an underlying principle in the formulation of new policies and programmes.

"In putting forward major new proposals, we require government agencies to critically evaluate the sustainable development angle and to consider its full implications before making a final decision.

"Our aim is to ensure that in taking forward the programmes needed to consolidate our position as a modern city, we do not compromise the quality of life of our citizens, now or in the future."

The needs to maintain strong networks of support for our citizens and to preserve a healthy and pleasant natural environment have become clear priorities in the vision for our further development.

Challenges relate to long-term sustainability

Chief Secretary Donald Tsang - who heads up Hong Kong's Council for Sustainable Development - also addressed the forum. Despite our successes, he said, Hong Kong has its share of challenges that are directly related to our long-term sustainability.

In particular, Mr Tsang pointed to Hong Kong's scarce land resources to meet the needs of a growing population and build housing and transport facilities for a highly mobile workforce.

"Sometimes we have to make tough decisions on how to balance the need for more land to encourage growth with the desire to maintain a high quality of life for our people," he said.

Waste disposal posed another daunting challenge. Hong Kong's high level of commercial and personal consumption of goods generates large amounts of waste - and current waste-disposal facilities will no longer be viable in a few years, Mr Tsang said.

"We need to develop solutions that will not only safeguard the integrity of our natural environment but also be economically viable and socially acceptable. Again, this requires some difficult decisions."

Consensus-building in the community key

A further consideration goes to the root of the concept of sustainable development - mobilising community resources in a spirit of partnership and capacity sharing.

"Bringing the community into an inclusive and open discussion of our future priorities will raise public awareness of the principles of sustainable development. Through our consultation process, we can enhance our citizens' capacity to understand the basis of sustainability," he said.

"A sustainable city of the future will be defined by its ability to reconcile respect for the natural environment with economic growth and social equity and diversity. But it will also be defined by its readiness to encourage citizens' participation in all the issues that define quality of life."

300 participants take part in forum

More than 300 overseas, Mainland and local participants have signed up for the two-day forum. Jointly convened by the Government of the People's Republic of China and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, it will focus on how to take forward commitments made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.

A panel of municipal leaders, experts and city planners, including the Governor of Phnom Penh and the City Nazim of Karachi will comment on the keynote speeches, highlighting challenges as well as ways of incorporating sustainable development principles into city planning.

Topic-related sessions will focus on:

* economic growth and job creation;

* infrastructure for a better quality of life;

* planning for a better environment for urban housing and land use;

* meeting basic social needs;

* improving mobility; and

* tourism and cultural heritage.