Hong Kong, 11 December 2024: Step aside, Tarzan, a pop singer called Danny Jones is the real king of the jungle. He has just been crowned winner of reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! – a feat that is headline news in the UK. The annual series sees a group of public figures forced to survive together in the wild for several weeks, with no creature comforts. Millions of viewers follow their every move and vote them off, one by one, until there is a champion. It’s quality entertainment.
Six decades ago, Dr Jane Goodall entered the jungle for real. Armed with little more than a notebook and binoculars, the young English primatologist ventured into the forest of Gombe, in what is now Tanzania, to live with chimpanzees. Her groundbreaking research gave the world a remarkable window into humankind’s closest living relatives.
These days, the celebrated Dr Goodall travels the world – including a recent visit to Hong Kong where, I’m pleased to say, we sponsored one of her speaking engagements – stressing the importance of biodiversity and environmental protection. “We have five years to get together and slow down these horrific harms that we’ve done to the planet,” she warns. What can we do? She believes our densely populated city can rally support from its business community, universities and grassroots organisations to focus on green buildings and sustainable architecture.
I love her optimism, but we have some way to go. Environmental group The Green Earth says nearly 20% of buildings which have conducted an energy efficiency audit recently are registering higher usage levels than 10 years ago. The Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance requires landlords to carry out an energy audit of air conditioning, lighting, electrical systems, lifts and escalators. Yet, as the NGO’s Thomas Chan points out, it is toothless legislation since properties simply need to submit a report but “are not subject to any form of regulation in terms of their energy consumption”.
The government’s Climate Action Plan 2050 seeks to achieve this city’s goal of carbon neutrality before the aforesaid year. This includes trying to reduce carbon emissions by 50% covering the period 2005-35. However, buildings account for 90% of this city’s electricity consumption, while over 60% of our carbon emissions come from generating electricity for – yes, you guessed it – buildings. Our friend Thomas points out, not unreasonably, that hitting reduction targets is difficult if buildings can use more energy without any consequences.
Still, the authorities believe they are making solid progress towards their green goals. Environment minister Tse Chin-wan insists the amount of rubbish generated by this city is “on a steady decline”, noting an annual 4.7% drop in the daily quantity per person to 1.44kg. For the city as a whole, the average daily amount is 10,884 tonnes, a 2.2% year on year decrease. He points to government efforts to promote waste reduction and recycling, an expanded recycling network and a new initiative to cut food waste.
Citizens are complying with the sustainability drive via a mix of education and enforcement. A city-wide ban on disposable plastic tableware in restaurants has recently come into force. Now, all styrofoam products, as well as plastic straws, stirrers, forks, knives, spoons and plates are outlawed. A six-month grace period leading up to the ban saw 30 million fewer sets of disposable cutlery used. This is one green initiative that works, in stark contrast to the controversial Municipal Solid Waste Charging scheme – requiring residents to dispose of rubbish using paid-for designated bags – which has been shelved since May following a problem-plagued trial run.
If that’s left the administration bunkered, not so the Hong Kong Golf Club. Its well-to-do members hardly strike you as eco-warriors, but they have carded a legal victory in their efforts to prevent the government building 12,000 public flats on one of their three courses. The High Court has ruled an environmental impact report – waved through by the authorities – was riddled with errors and breaches of the law. The administration is considering an appeal.
To be fair, city leader John Lee has little time for such government gaffes. He has just dismissed two ministers for poor performance, including transport secretary Lam Sai-hung, whose replacement Mable Chan has immediately pledged to put residents’ travel needs first in attempting to drag our ride-hailing regulations out of the Dark Ages. Welcome words in this bustling metropolis where Uber remains illegal in the face of a powerful taxi lobby. Having been part of a government-led legal delegation to Guangzhou and Shenzhen last week and experienced those cities’ modern, efficient ride-hailing regimes – wondering, “Why don’t we have this?” – I feel Mable can’t get started soon enough.
Taxi troubles aside, there are multiple reasons to love Hong Kong, certainly Hannes Farlock and Johannes Hack believe so. These two prominent members of our German business community are my latest guests on Law & More, chatting about relations, trade and cultural ties, with some Brexit and football for good measure. It’s an enlightening discussion, please listen.
In closing, back to I’m a Celebrity. If the reality show contestants found the great outdoors challenging, spare a thought for the Hong Kong teenager bitten by a wild boar while camping with friends in Sai Kung last weekend. It’s the third such attack in two months, with experts warning against keeping food in tents since the feral pigs have a strong sense of smell.
Be careful, citizens. As Danny Jones and Dr Jane Goodall will attest, it’s a jungle out there.
Until next time, everybody!
Colin Cohen
Senior Partner
Boase Cohen & Collins
