Hong Kong's older urban areas present considerable environmental challenges. These areas, partly being redeveloped, consist of dense housing mixed with commerce and industry and an infrastructure that needs continuous upgrading so as to meet development needs and rising public expectations. Factors such as scarce habitable land, concentrated transport networks, immense housing demand and a lack of environmental concern in the past mean noise from road and rail traffic remains a major problem despite improvement and control measures. Construction noise is also a concern for residents living near development sites.

    Unplanned discharges from livestock farming, industrial, commercial and domestic sources had once been a serious threat to the environment. These are now kept under control through enforcement and implementation of various environmental programmes since the late 1980s. The pollution load on major rivers has been significantly reduced, by about 90 per cent. However, owing to the low base flow rate of these rivers and the remaining pollution load, further improvement work is still necessary.

    The Government's pollution control strategy aims not to compromise industry and commerce, but work in partnership with the private sector firms in ensuring environmental compliance so that all may benefit from a better environment. Direct economic benefits can often be gained from activities such as recycling and the adoption of environmentally friendly technology. These methods are better than pollution control techniques that have to apply after a waste material has become a potential pollutant.

    The Government encourages industry and commerce to recognise the benefits of waste minimisation and pollution prevention and to work to achieve these with their own initiatives. Statutory control guidelines are also provided with well-defined standards to ensure compliance.