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In the context of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), Hong Kong always demonstrates ambivalence.Does Hong Kong consider itself a part of PRD?Vice versa, does the PRD consider Hong Kong as a member of the big family?

When the Jiangxi officials knocked on Hong Kong’s door last year to remind its policy makers that the source of the East River, which supplies drinking water to Hong Kong as well as Shenzhen, originated in their province. The Jiangxi officials claimed that they have made significant sacrifice to safeguard the water quality by banning pig farming and tanning operators in the upstream. They asked for an ecological compensation.Hong Kong paid billions of dollars annually to the Guangdong Provincial Government to import drinking water from across the border.Most of the money was spent on engineering pipe-laying networks and maintenance.Nothing was spared for upstream relocation and upstream conservation.

The paradoxical question is whether the sustainability bottom-line of PRD stops just at its boundary?

When the biggest petro-chemical industry park in Southern China was proposed and to be built in Huizhou, near Daya Bay Nuclear Plant, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was required.Hong Kong was not included in its consultation process despite that it sits at the downwind and downstream of the petro-chemical plant, whose industrial emission and pollutants will have potential impact on delta region air and water qualities.

It’s none of your business.You have no right to know.

How can PRD cities manage and prepare for ecological risks and share pollution liabilities?

The Hong Kong-Macao-Zhuhai bridge was proposed as an economic integration move to steer the axis of growth to the west of the PRD.Hong Kong together with Macao and Zhuhai have to share the construction cost and the eventual operation and maintenance expenses.In another words, Hong Kong taxpayers’ money is paying for a portion of the bridge and of course for the EIA studies that would decide the bridge alignment, the crossings and the landing points.The paradox is that the Advisory Council for the Environment (ACE), a Hong Kong Government think tank on the environment, was allowedto comment only on the part of the EIA regarding to the Hong Kong section of the bridge.The Council did not get to see the whole EIA and was not fully consulted on the EIA of the whole bridge.

Hong Kong is considered an “integrated” part of the PRD only when it becomes a “shareholder” of the PRD Inc.?

PRD as the factory of the world is experiencing acute energy shortage in the export peak season.Its S.O.S for emergency electricity was responded by one of Hong Kong’s major power supplier.China Light & Power is all too glad to sell off its excess reserve capacity and more.Burning cheap coal to generate more electricity to sell across the border, but the price of pollution was to be paid by the health of the 6.8 million residents of Hong Kong.Talking about mutual support and mutual benefit, such was a classical case of reverse osmosis.

Fraternity at a price for PRD growth?

Exchange visits and dialogue across the border claim to have been congenial and more frequent.Government proclaimed that progress has been made in cooperation to monitor and collect data on the PRD air quality and pollution load.Government leaders on both side of the border pledge year after year that tackling PRD pollution is on top of their agendas.But the One Country Two System mentality presents itself an inhibitor rather than a facilitator.In a recent discussion by ACE members to identify destination for annual study visits to learn about the latest environmental management and policy development in other countries, Japan, Taiwan, France, UK, Australia are mentioned.But to consider study visits by a Government appointed body to China, there was reservation.Are we trespassing?Will it be too sensitive?

Open-door-policy-on-demand only is good enough to build trust on cross border cooperation?

Fraternity or solidarity, it is time for Hong Kong to make up its mind about the role its plays in the PRD.It is time for Hong Kong to formulate a clear position how it would engage PRD neighbours.

There is so much scope on cooperation and integration.Integrated transport planning, integrated natural resource management, integrated environmental financing and facilities planning just to name a few.Hong Kong is planning an EcoIndustryPark, it is also considering hosting the 2008 Olympic Horse Riding competition, expansion of theme parks to welcome more mainland tourists, attracting cruise operators by building cruise terminals and above all to expand the port and logistic trade.

Considering the economy of scale and in the context of long-term benefit and environmental resource sustainability, is it wiser to have a regional perspective to all these grand ideas?

PRD fraternity and regional solidarity gains more mileage and economic stability.Convergence or divergence?It is time for Hong Kong to make up its mind whether it want to be the only Pearl of the Orient?Is the idea of One Delta, Two Pearls and Three Little Dragons worthy of long term integration?

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meing@foe.org.hk