Speaking after a Council meeting, Tsang, who chairs the Council, said the aim of consultation was to involve the public in drawing up a blueprint for a sustainable future for Hong Kong. This issue should be the subject of a comprehensive and lively public discussion, culminating in public endorsement of a strategic direction.

On the consultation framework, Tsang said the Strategy Sub-committee would conduct a series of discussions with stakeholders on the objectives, priorities, implementation plans and monitoring mechanism that would make up the overall strategy.

"The Council's intention is that stakeholder consultation and the formulation of a strategy proposal that would have public support could be completed in 18 months," he said.

"Meanwhile, we must show the wider community that sustainable development is not just a lofty concept, but also offers a way of improving the quality of our lives," he said, adding that to this end, the Council supported the establishment of the proposed Sustainable Development Fund, which would provide resources to support community initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability.

"We hope that with the Fund, more community projects could be implemented to raise people's awareness of the principles of sustainability and how to put these into practice," said Tsang.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2003)