Zero Carbon Drive 'may Still Involve Mainland Power'

Despite public opposition to the idea of the city buying power from the mainland, the Council for Sustainable Development said it's keeping the option open as it proposed that Hong Kong should aim to become carbon neutral by 2050 in line with the country's goal on achieving zero carbon emissions in three decades.

The council published its report on Friday, drawing from a public consultation exercise last year on de-carbonisation.

More than 70 percent of the 70,000-plus submissions on the consultation exercise voiced opposition to importing renewable energy from the mainland, as well as regional cooperation for using zero carbon energy. The report did not specify the reasons behind the opposition.

The council did not make recommendations on regional energy cooperation, but said there should be more studies on the safe use of imported nuclear power.

On the sourcing of energy, the council said all options should be kept open, provided that they are safe and cheap.

The council said it only made proposals on the direction of energy sourcing and did not specify where exactly Hong Kong should import energy from.

"We look into all possibilities. We're not saying, just because it's China, we have to buy it from China... or we must not have anything to do with China," council chairman Arthur Li told a press conference.

The council made a total of 55 proposals on lower carbon emissions. These include minimising waste and encouraging recycling, promoting water saving and speeding up the use of electric vehicles.

Li said while the zero carbon target is ambitious, it is only responsible to set the benchmark to benefit future generations.

"It is a difficult target, but it's not an unattainable target... but it means we have to work together, it means every [Hongkonger] has to look into their own lifestyle, and think about climate change," he said.

Earlier, former Hong Kong Observatory chief Lam Chiu-ying, who was involved in the public consultation exercise, quit his role over what he saw as a lack of meetings and slow progress.

Li made it clear that the council has to work by the rules.