The Project encourages exchange between youth leaders and government in order to provide a stimulus for putting ideas into action. Coming up early next month are a Hong Kong 200 workshop and forum on air quality in the city with members of the Council for Sustainable Development. The HK 200 participants recognise that active engagement and commitment by each individual to tackle pollution is the place to start:

Change in personal habits and attitudes are the basic and most effective way to solve long term environmental problems. Then government involvement is essential…

Lau Pui-hoi, first year law student, Chinese University of Hong Kong HK 200 2006

Before changing the world, I must first change myself. I will influence others by changing my own habits…and promoting the same message at school…

Lau Tin-wah, F.6 Wah Yan College, HK 200 2007

Dr Edgar Cheng, Vice Chairman of the Council for Sustainable Development, has been invited to the forum to give some feedback to Hong Kong 200 Association members. He has said recently:

The government and mainland authorities have launched many initiatives to improve regional air quality. You and I can help them do better by changing our daily habits to tie in well with their work. We need to work more, locally as well as regionally, looking after our air quality.*

There will be a seminar and workshop before the forum, with Professor Lam kin-che from the Council for Sustainable Development & Chairman of Advisory Council on the Environment as guest speaker. Participants will voice their opinions and ideas on energy conservation and electronic road pricing:

I think the attitude of citizens is the very first thing to be considered in tackling pollution. If …society fully understands the importance of environmental protection…the implementation of regulations and legislation can be smoother.

Leung Pui-men, F.7 Ying Wa Girls' School, HK200 2007

Not only air quality control but the protection of the environment as a whole should be made the top priority for government…

Lee Wai-kit, F.7 TWGH Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College, HK 200 2007

HK 200's engagement in this air quality consultation process is a good example of the nature of commitment Hong Kong's young leaders need to make an impact on the city's future. Their sense of responsibility shows that they have already understand how important this is. The Federation will continue to offer them support in such endeavours.

Contact Leadership 21, tel 2169 0255 for more information on Hong Kong 200.

* http://www.susdev.org.hk/en/irdoc/index.htm
** South China Morning Post 25 August 2007
*** http://cleanair.hk/eng/charter.htm

The Council for Sustainable Development is inviting comment on the ways of controlling air pollution. An online questionnaire is at http://www.susdev.org.hk/en/questionnaire/index.asp. It takes only a few minutes to complete and the Federation is distributing the questionnaire to its youth members.

According to a recent survey by the local American Chamber of Commerce*, 51% of businesses have had difficulty recruiting professionals to come and work in Hong Kong because of the pollution. 70% personally know professionals who have refused work here, and 83% know professionals here who are thinking of leaving the SAR because of the poor environment. Another survey** of 1,100 expats in Asia rated Hong Kong’s air quality as worse than either India’s or China’s.

A survey of children in Kwun Tong , a known black spot for pollution, has shown they suffer more respiratory problems than children living in Shatin.*** 60% of them have chronic coughs and asthma. Air pollution, which has a major impact on the health of both children and the elderly, results in 3 to 4 times the number of child hospital admissions in November-December compared to July-August.

A survey of children in Kwun Tong , a known black spot for pollution, has shown they suffer more respiratory problems than children living in Shatin.** 60% of them have chronic coughs and asthma. Air pollution, which has a major impact on the health of both children and the elderly, results in 3 to 4 times the number of child hospital admissions in November-December compared to July-August.

* http://www.amcham.org.hk/content/view/5712/203 [accessed 19 September 2007]
** Apple Daily 24 September 2007-09-27
*** The Standard 25 September 2007

A survey done 10 years ago by the Commission on Youth found that only 7.4% of 1,660 15-24 interviewed year-olds knew what 'two systems' meant in the concept of 'one country two systems.*

This summer, The Challenges Ahead for Hong Kong contained results of an SCMP TNS survey of leadership potential in Hong Kong's youth.** Even now, over 40% of more than 1,000 local opinion leaders and businessmen think that Hong Kong youth are badly prepared for today's competitive, globalised world and lack the necessary leadership qualities.

The need for leadership training in such a context is clearly evident.

* Commission on Youth: Youth in Hong Kong: a statistical profile 1997
** South China Morning Post 4 June 2007