Letters | Hong Kong’s zero-carbon goal is just as vital as having affordable power

Readers discuss the upcoming review of the agreements that regulate electricity supply in Hong Kong, the relaxation of visa requirements to China, the merits of having an integrated health app, and the aborted taxi driver strike

Hong Kong environmental issues

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 28 Nov 2023

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The Legislative Council’s review of the five-year development plans of Hong Kong’s two power companies, HK Electric and CLP Power, is expected to start today, as part of the interim review of the government’s agreements with the two companies that regulate electricity supply in the city.

The Scheme of Control Agreements are a policy framework between the government and the power companies that sets out the future fuel mix, shareholder returns and performance targets. Under these agreements, the government also conducts an annual review of the electricity tariffs.

While electricity tariffs are undoubtedly important, they should not be the sole consideration.

In 2014, when Hong Kong was deliberating on its fuel mix, one suggestion was to buy electricity directly from the mainland to keep electricity tariffs affordable. But this also means Hong Kong would have little control over the fuel mix and be restricted in exploring other net-zero alternatives.

Thus, rather than focus only on cost considerations, Hong Kong should aim to forge agreements that ensure fair resource competition and an alignment of standards in the Greater Bay Area, an environmentally sustainable energy mix, and greater resilience against unexpected events such as a power outage.

The upcoming review provides an opportunity for us to establish a forward-looking and long-term strategy for the zero-carbon transition, while keeping the costs of electricity affordable.

The Daya Bay nuclear power plant, a joint venture between CLP and Guangdong Nuclear Investment, could be a model to follow. A joint-venture zero-carbon power plant – prioritising wind, solar and nuclear energy – would provide a collaboration framework within the Greater Bay Area.

It would increase the capacity of net-zero energy, thus removing the need to construct new coal-fired plants in Guangdong, and give Hong Kong more control over electricity production, thus leading to more predictable tariff rates.

Given that electricity generation accounts for around 60 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong, it is critical that we use this review to effectively identify a decarbonisation plan that considers the broader aspects and not just the immediate costs. Only when we begin to consider long-term plans, such as a joint venture scheme or other comprehensive energy policies that encourage collaboration, can we reap the benefits of high-quality sustainable development.

Harriet Tsang, researcher, and Lawrence Iu, executive director, Civic Exchange

Extend China visa-free travel to permanent residents

It was a pleasant surprise to read the news last week that China will soon allow citizens of Malaysia and several European countries to enter visa-free for 15 days. In view of this, could Hong Kong’s chief executive request the mainland authorities to extend the same courtesy to Hong Kong permanent residents holding foreign passports?

Currently, Hong Kong permanent residents have to apply for a visa to visit the mainland, as they don’t have the mainland travel permits known as home return permits.

Allowing permanent residents 15-day visa-free travel would also complement Hong Kong’s talent search and foster integration within the Greater Bay Area.

Joseph Fan, Ma On Shan

An integrated health app will benefit patients

In line with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s emphasis on digital transformation in his policy address, we urge the health authorities to take a step towards integrating Western and Chinese medical services in the city by leveraging our existing digital platforms.

Hong Kong has three digital platforms for health services – the Hospital Authority’s “HA Go” and “18 CM Clinics” apps, and the eHealth record-sharing system that allows the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health and private healthcare providers to share patient information.

HA Go and 18 CM Clinics facilitate appointment bookings with public hospital doctors and Chinese medical practitioners respectively. Some 2.2 million public hospital patients, about 46 per cent of the total, use HA Go, while information on 18 CM Clinics users was not available.

Both databases are also not integrated. This suggests a missed opportunity for a more holistic, patient-centric approach.

The eHealth record-sharing system, enrolling 5.7 million patients across public and private healthcare sectors, presents a potential solution. By integrating all three systems, we can provide patients with convenient access to both Western and Chinese medical services, while allowing practitioners to better understand patient needs.

We acknowledge the technical and other challenges of such an effort. Nevertheless, we urge the teams responsible for the three platforms to initiate conversations on this vital integration, to support Hong Kong’s digital transformation aspirations.

Darren Ho, Tsz Hang Li and Daniel Yau, Kowloon Tong

‘Normality’ for Hong Kong taxis is hopelessly outdated

I read the article about the taxi industry calling off its planned 1,000-driver strike and had to laugh. Especially amusing was the comment by Wong Yu-ting, chairman of the Hong Kong Tele-call Taxi Association, that the taxi industry could now “return to normality”.

It is the industry’s stubbornness in clinging to its antiquated definition of normality that is the problem. It has repeatedly failed to recognise and address the reasons the ride-hailing sector has made inroads into the Hong Kong market.

I read in the Post that some 21,000 taxi drivers accept Octopus card payment. I would like to know where they are as, in my experience, only about one in 15 taxis I take offer such a payment option. As consumers who enjoy the benefits of ride-hailing, we should perhaps force change by demanding e-payment.

Compared to our taxi fleet, even Fred Flintstone and his Flintmobile would provide a more competitive service.

Simon Constantinides, Wan Chai

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