The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has sought gradually to make sustainable development an underlying principle in the formulation of new policies and programs in recent years.

Speaking at the opening of the United Nations Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum "Sustainable Development for Cities," HK's 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 the citizens and a respect for the natural and cultural heritage.

The government must consider the aspiration of the 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.

"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," he added.

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

Chief Secretary Donald Tsang, who heads Hong Kong's Council for Sustainable Development, also addressed the forum. "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.

According to him, Hong Kong needs to develop solutions that will not only safeguard the integrity of its natural environment but also be economically viable and socially acceptable.

More than 300 representatives from overseas, Hong Kong and China's mainland attended 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.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2004)