Clear The Air News Blog Rotating Header Image

May 4th, 2012:

Residential Recycling Launched In Sharjah

Clear the Air says:

Wow , the Bedouins can do what HK has failed to achieve !

Maybe Edward Yau should have got on his camel the UAE instead of jetting off to Europe ?

http://www.beeah-uae.com/content/2012-first-year-event

Monday, February 6, 2012.

On February 6th, 2012, Bee’ah & the Sharjah City Municipality will launch the phased roll-out of residential recycling in Sharjah.

The programme will be launched during a press conference that will be held at the Chamber of Commerce in Sharjah. The event is expected to host all members of the media as well as VIPs and influencers. During the event, Bee’ah will showcase its new fleet, bins, and operational roll-out plan.

Residential recycling will be rolled out in the Emirate of Sharjah, starting from the key low-rise sectors in Sharjah (sector 5) and then phasing into other sectors. The recycling program will entail the distribution and installation of around 2,000 pairs of new color coded plastic bins designated for recyclables and general waste, and will be coupled with new routes that optimize the distribution and collection efficiency of Tandeef.

In addition to the distribution of the new recycling bins, the residents of each sector  will receive door-to-door training on how to use these bins and a kit that contains a number of different awareness-raising tools.

Public spaces and outdoor media will also be utilized in order to spread the message that residential recycling is now available in Sharjah within each given sector. This will include flags, banners at the co-ops, posters in schools, and other touch points

Organisations and companies of the Green Tech Mission

Clear the Air looks forward to finding out who are the individuals from these organisations who accompanied Edward Yau on his current trip to Europe.

download PDF : P201204240215_0215_92882

Eddie Yau’s jolly to Europe at taxpayer expense – how big a suite did HE stay in ? how can Hong Kong benefit from his jolly ?

Description: Photo

SEN to lead green tech mission to Europe (with photos)
******************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 24) led a green tech mission on a visit to Europe. The mission seeks to exchange experience on the development and promotion of green technologies, identify opportunities for co-operation on various green initiatives, and promote the market for green technological and innovative solutions in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.

The mission, consisting of 20 professionals and business representatives from 15 academic, quasi-government bodies and commercial organisations, will visit various cities in Sweden, Denmark, Scotland and England.

On his arrival in Stockholm, Sweden this morning, Mr Yau will first call on the State Secretary to Minister for the Environment, Mr Anders Flanking. Later, he will attend the Stockholm+40 Conference, which aims to bring the international community together to discuss sustainable development and its challenges. Mr Yau will address two sessions at the conference and will then proceed to Copenhagen, Denmark in the evening.

On Wednesday (April 25), Mr Yau and the mission will visit a recycling station and an incineration plant to learn about the city’s waste-to-energy technology. To identify opportunities for co-operation in green business, the party will attend a luncheon with top executives from various green organisations co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (HKETO London), Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association.

During their stay in Copenhagen, the mission will attend a meeting with Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster to learn more about cleantech research, development and implementation. Mr Yau will then meet with the Danish Shipowners’ Association to hear more about the Fair Winds Charter. Mr Yau will also address a reception for the Danish business sector entitled “Hong Kong: the Gateway to Green Pearl River Delta”, co-hosted by the HKETO London and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association.

On Thursday (April 26), Mr Yau will proceed to Malmo in Sweden where he will begin with a breakfast meeting with the Mayor of Malmo, Mr Ilmar Reepalu. Mr Yau will then join the mission for a meeting with Malmo companies. In Lund he will call on the Mayor and President of the City Council, Ms Annika Annerby Jansson. He will also visit Lund University and listen to a presentation on two major research facilities that are seeking to achieve sustainable development. Afterwards, he will attend a luncheon hosted by the Mayor and Chairman of the City Executive Committee of Lund, Mr Mats Helmfrid.

Mr Yau will return to Copenhagen, Denmark in late afternoon to pay a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Li Ruiyu, and the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Mr Frank Jensen. He will leave for Edinburgh, Scotland in the evening.

On Friday (April 27), Mr Yau will call on the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Scottish Government, Mr Stewart Stevenson. He will then join the mission on a visit to HydroThane UK and the North British Distillery Company Limited to learn how the link between the anaerobic digestion plant and the distillery creates a green energy source. The group will also tour the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University and the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow to learn more about their research work.

In Cambridge, England on April 30, Mr Yau and the delegates will visit the Cambridge Consultants and Ricardo at Cambridge Science Park and AmeyCespa – leading organisations in innovative product development, clean automotive technology and waste management. They will also attend a working roundtable hosted by Deloitte, one of the founders of Cambridge Cleantech.

On May 1, the party will attend a breakfast meeting hosted by Chatham House, an independent international affairs think-tank and membership organisation, and visit Transport for London to take a look at the new London bus, which uses the latest green diesel-electric hybrid technology. They will also take the opportunity to talk to the local business community about Hong Kong’s role as the gateway to the “green” Pearl River Delta during a luncheon hosted by HKETO London.

Mr Yau will leave London for Hong Kong in the evening.

Ends/Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:46

NNNN

SEN and green tech mission start visit to Denmark (with photos)
********************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and a green tech mission from Hong Kong started their visit to Denmark in Copenhagen today (April 25, Copenhagen time). While in Copenhagen they will take a look at the city’s advanced waste treatment technology and explore possibilities for co-operation in green business.

The mission first visited Amagerforbrænding, which runs Copenhagen’s largest incineration plant. They toured its recycling station and the incineration plant to learn more about the city’s waste treatment facilities and technology for generating energy from waste.

The mission will then attend a luncheon with top executives from various green organisations to identify opportunities for co-operation in green business. The luncheon is co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association.

In the afternoon, the mission will meet representatives from Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster, where they will listen to presentations and conduct group discussions on various aspects relating to cleantech research, development and implementation. Mr Yau will also meet the Danish Shipowners’ Association to hear more about the Fair Winds Charter.

The mission will then attend a reception co-hosted by the HKETO London, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association for the Danish business sector. During the reception Mr Yau will give a presentation entitled “Hong Kong: the Gateway to Green Pearl River Delta” on green business opportunities available to international investors.

The mission will proceed to Malmo in Sweden tomorrow (April 26, Copenhagen time).

Ends/Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:53

NNNN


News ArchivesYesterday’s News

SEN and green tech mission start visit to Sweden (with photos)
*******************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and a green tech mission from Hong Kong arrived in Malmo, Sweden today (April 26, Sweden time).

While in Malmo the mission, comprising 20 professionals and business representatives from 15 academic, quasi-government bodies and commercial organisations, will learn about the city’s achievements in sustainable development and seek to identify green business opportunities.

On his arrival, Mr Yau attended a breakfast meeting with the Mayor of Malmo, Mr Ilmar Reepalu, to exchange views on environmental issues of mutual concern. He then joined the mission for a meeting with local companies on the Sustainability Charter, which was signed between Hong Kong and Malmo in 2011 to encourage partnership between the two cities in achieving sustainable development.

The mission met with the Malmo business sector for an exchange of ideas on sustainability challenges and business opportunities between two places, as well as on Hong Kong’s role in helping European companies enter the Asian market. The mission then toured Malmo’s Western Harbour, a flagship urban redevelopment that has adopted an ecological approach to city planning and construction.

Mr Yau took the opportunity to visit Malmo’s neigbouring city, Lund. He first called on the Mayor and President of Lund City Council, Ms Annika Annerby Jansson, and was briefed on two major sustainable development research facilities, namely the European Spallation Source (ESS) and MAX IV. Mr Yau then attended a luncheon hosted by the Mayor and Chairman of the City Executive Committee of Lund, Mr Mats Helmfrid.

In the afternoon, the mission will listen to presentations by representatives from the local commercial sector, including EON, an international energy company, and MINC, a business incubator for nanotechnology companies. This will be followed by a visit to Augustenborg, an eco-friendly part of Malmo, where the mission will learn about the advanced water treatment technology developed by innovative company Watreco and the environmentally-friendly features of Greenhouse Augustenborg, an ecologically planned housing estate. They will also tour a shopping mall, which has been designed to achieve high energy efficiency.

Mr Yau will return to Copenhagen, Denmark in the late afternoon to pay a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Li Ruiyu, and the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Mr Frank Jensen.

Mr Yau and the mission will proceed to Edinburgh in Scotland in the evening.

Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:00

NNNN

SEN and green tech mission arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland (with photos)
*********************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, today (April 27, UK time) where they hope to discover how Hong Kong can learn from the city’s experience in green tech development and academic research.

Mr Yau first called on the Scottish Government’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Mr Stewart Stevenson, for an exchange of ideas on environmental issues of mutual concern.

Mr Yau and the mission paid a visit to HydroThane UK, which specialises in industrial waste water treatment, water recycling, solid waste digestion and biogas treatment. They then visited the North British Distillery Company Limited to see how the link between the anaerobic digestion plant and the distillery creates a green energy source, significantly reducing the distillery’s carbon footprint.

Following this the party will tour the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University and the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the research work and collaboration with green industries.

The Biofuel Research Centre is dedicated to the development of renewable and sustainable biofuels, while the Advanced Forming Research Centre supports fundamental and applied research in forming and forging.

Mr Yau and the mission will leave for London in the evening.

Ends/Friday, April 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:39

NNNN

Recycle centre: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau inspects a recycling station in Copenhagen.

Edward Yau visits Denmark

April 25, 2012

Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau and a green tech mission from Hong Kong started their visit to Denmark in Copenhagen today.

They inspected advanced waste treatment technology and explored possibilities for co-operation in green business.

They toured Copenhagen’s largest incineration plant and its recycling station.

They will later attend a luncheon with top executives from various environmental organisations to identify opportunities for co-operation in green business.

They will meet representatives from Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster and listen to presentations and conduct group discussions on various aspects relating to cleantech research, development and implementation.

Mr Yau will also meet the Danish Shipowners’ Association to hear more about the Fair Winds Charter.

The mission will then attend a reception co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in London, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association for the Danish business sector.

Mr Yau will speak on green business opportunities available to international investors.

The mission will head to Sweden tomorrow

SEN continues visit to Europe in Cambridge, England (with photos)
**********************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission from Hong Kong continued their trip to Europe in Cambridge, England, today (April 30, UK time) to learn more about European experiences in the development and promotion of green technologies. Mr Yau and the delegates visited Cambridge Consultants and Ricardo at Cambridge Science Park in the morning to learn about their research and development in clean tech and low-carbon vehicles.

Cambridge Science Park, the oldest and most prestigious science park in the UK, is home to more than 100 companies, the majority of which are involved in scientific research and development. Cambridge Consultants is an engineering company specialising in innovative product development including renewable energy efficient products and energy management systems, whereas Ricardo provides engineering solutions and low-carbon automotive product innovations including electric vehicles (EVs).

The party will later attend a working roundtable hosted by Deloitte, one of the founders of Cambridge Cleantech.

In the afternoon, they will tour the recycling facilities at AmeyCespa, a leading waste management company in Cambridgeshire. The company, which is specifically targeted at the UK market, is a fully integrated provider of waste management services, including waste collection and the management of household waste recycling centres and landfill sites.

Mr Yau will return to London in the late afternoon.

Ends/Monday, April 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:49

NNNN

SEN concludes visit to Europe in London (with photo)
****************************************************

The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission today (May 1, UK time) concluded their visit to Europe in London, England.

The day began with a breakfast roundtable meeting hosted by Chatham House, an independent international affairs think-tank and membership organisation, to discuss various environmental protection issues including the adoption of business solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The party then visited Transport for London to take a look at the new London bus, a modern, fully accessible vehicle that uses the latest green diesel-electric hybrid technology. The delegation also exchanged views with the bus company management on using green and low-carbon technologies for public transportation.

Mr Yau and the delegates will attend a luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, during which they will have the opportunity to talk to the local business community about Hong Kong’s role as the gateway to the “green” Pearl River Delta (PRD), as well as the green business collaboration between the Hong Kong Government and the neighbouring cities in Guangdong.

Mr Yau has been leading the green tech mission to Europe over the past week to exchange experiences on the development and promotion of green technologies, to identify opportunities for co-operation on various green initiatives, and to promote the market potential for green technological and innovative solutions in Hong Kong and the PRD region.

The mission, consisting of 20 professionals and business representatives from 15 academic, quasi-government bodies and commercial organisations, visited various cities in Sweden, Denmark, Scotland and England.

Mr Yau will leave London for Hong Kong in the evening (UK time).

Ends/Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:37

NNNN

http://www.hketolondon.gov.hk/home/index.htm

  • ·        SEN concludes visit to Europe in London
  • ·        The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission today (May 1, UK time) concluded their visit to Europe in London, England.
  • ·        SEN continues visit to Europe in Cambridge, England
  • ·        The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission from Hong Kong continued their trip to Europe in Cambridge, England, today (April 30, UK time) to learn more about European experiences in the development and promotion of green technologies.
  • ·        SEN and green tech mission start visit to Scotland
  • ·        The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and the green tech mission arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, today (April 27, UK time) where they hope to discover how Hong Kong can learn from the city’s experience in green tech development and academic research.
  • ·        SEN and green tech mission start visit to Denmark
  • ·        The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, and a green tech mission from Hong Kong started their visit to Denmark in Copenhagen today (April 25, Copenhagen time). While in Copenhagen they will take a look at the city’s advanced waste treatment technology and explore possibilities for co-operation in green business.
  • ·        SEN to lead green tech mission to Europe
  • ·        The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 24) led a green tech mission on a visit to Europe. The mission seeks to exchange experience on the development and promotion of green technologies, identify opportunities for co-operation on various green initiatives, and promote the market for green technological and innovative solutions in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.

Heartland Institute

The Heartland Institute has launched a billboard campaign that compares people who acknowledge the scientific consensus on global warming to criminals and terrorists, such as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. The Institute, a right-wing “think tank” funded by, among others, billionaire right-wing activists David and and Charles Koch,explains how the people featured on the billboards were selected:

“The billboard series features Ted Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber; Charles Manson, a mass murderer; and Fidel Castro, a tyrant. Other global warming alarmists who may appear on future billboards include Osama bin Laden and James J. Lee (who took hostages inside the headquarters of the Discovery Channel in 2010).” The Institute notes, “what these murderers and madmen have said differs very little from what spokespersons for the United Nations, journalists for the “mainstream” media, and liberal politicians say about global warming.”

The Heartland Institute is clearly attempting to sway people into thinking that those who accept that global warming is happening are marginal kooks: “The point is that believing in global warming is not “mainstream,” smart, or sophisticated. … The people who still believe in man-made global warming are mostly on the radical fringe of society. This is why the most prominent advocates of global warming aren’t scientists. They are murderers, tyrants, and madmen.”

Despite the Heartland Institute’s efforts, the majority of the American public accepts that global warming is occurring. A recent poll by the Brookings Institution notes that 62% of Americans agree that “there is solid evidence that that average temperature on Earth has been getting warmer.” Interestingly 80% of Democrats surveyed believe that global warming is happening, compared to 47% of Republicans. Similarly, a March 2012study by the Center for Climate Change Communication said “70 percent of Americans say that corporations and industry should be doing more to address global warming, which is back up to levels last seen in the fall of 2008.” The study also notes, “More than two-thirds of Americans (68%) say the U.S. should make either a large-scale or medium-scale effort to reduce global warming, even if this has large or moderate economic costs.”

As long as some rich power brokers fear that action to mitigate climate change will eat into their profits, comforts and beliefs, we can expect more desperate measures like this sleazy billboard campaign.

http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming-believers-equated-with-unabomber-by-heartland-institute.html

ICAC arrest ex-SHKP head Walter Kwok

SCMP

Lai Ying-kit
1:34pm, May 04, 2012

Sun Hung Kai Properties (SEHK: 0016)’ ousted chairman Walter Kwok Ping-sheung has been arrested in connection with a bribery investigation, the company said on Friday.

Kwok informed the board of directors on Thursday night of his arrest by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, it said. He has been released on bail.

The company has applied for trading in its shares to resume at 1pm on Friday, the company statement said. Trading was suspended on Friday morning in shares of Sun Hung Kai Properties and its unit SunEvision Holdings Limited.

Kwok’s arrest followed the arrests of his brothers Thomas Kwok Ping-kwong and Raymond Kwok Ping-luen, as well as former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan, on March 29 in a connection with a bribery investigation. Hui is the highest-ranking ex-government official to be arrested in the ICAC’s 38-year history.

Walter Kwok, now a non-executive director, was ousted from the family trust that controls Sun Hung Kai Properties two years ago, amid a feud with his two younger brothers at the top of the HK$245 billion empire.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post (SEHK: 0583announcementsnews)earlier this week, Walter Kwok said he had no knowledge of Hui’s involvement in the company’s business. Asked why he had not been investigated by the ICAC, Walter said: “Maybe they [the ICAC] know that I am not involved. As a matter of fact, I am not involved.”

Walter Kwok acknowledged that he was chairman of the company when Hui was recruited as a consultant. But he said he had no knowledge of what Hui did for the company, and denied reports that Hui was a consultant for his mother.

Sun Hung Kai Properties said a board meeting was held on Friday to discuss matters stemming from Walter Kwok’s arrest, and that none of the three Kwok brothers took part.

The arrests were not affecting business operations, and the company set up a special committee last month to handle all business matters, it said. The committee comprises one executive director and two non-executive directors.

“The executive committee continues to be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the company as usual,” it said.

Top health post for man in SARS row

HK Standard

Eddie Luk

Friday, May 04, 2012

Former Hospital Authority senior executive Ko Wing-man will take over the post of health minister.

The orthopedic surgeon was a core supporter of Chief Executive-elect Leung Chun-ying during the election, and also helped map out health and medical initiatives in his manifesto.

Ko was acting chief executive at the Hospital Authority in 2003 when its chief executive, William Ho Shiu-wei, contracted SARS.

Ko subsequently resigned from the authority in 2004 after both it and the government were slammed for mishandling the SARS outbreak.

Meanwhile, former permanent secretary for development Mak Chai-kwongwill assume the post of secretary for transport and works. Mak worked with Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who is widely tipped to be the next chief secretary, before his retirement in 2010.

Undersecretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok will replace Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong as secretary for security, while Secretary for Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah and Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat- ngok will be transferred to other posts if they are willing to serve the new administration.

Other officials such as Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Chan Ka-keung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and Commerce and Development Secretary Greg So Kam-leung will also serve the new administration.

Former Bar Association chairman Rimsky Yuen Kwok- keung will likely be appointed secretary for justice and Equal Opportunities Commission chief Lam Woon-kwong will be deputy chief secretary.

Accountancy sector lawmaker Paul Chan Mo-po likely will be deputy financial secretary.

In a related development, Leung’s office director, Fanny Law Fan Chui-fun, confirmed for the first time that Carrie Lam will continue to serve in the new administration.

Speaking on an RTHK radio program yesterday, Law hailed Lam for taking the initiative to visit local districts to listen to the opinions of the public and stressed that other officials in Leung’s Cabinet should follow suit.

Law also said she did not think it unsuitable for the new government to appoint political elites who are members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference or National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

Critics have said it would be unsuitable for Yuen, who is a member of CPPCC of Guangdong province, to become justice secretary.

EPD failures reflect government inertia

SCMP

May 04, 2012

I wholeheartedly agree with R. E. J. Bunker (“Job No 1 for Leung: replace Yau”, April 27) that the name of the Environmental Protection Department is inappropriate.

In Hong Kong the department’s primary task should be to improve the environment, as its current state is lamentable. Therefore it should be renamed the Environmental Improvement Department and that should be its main role.

One example of what needs to be done is in the area of recycling which is in a poor state in this city.

I read an article about Taipei in Taiwan. The authorities there have created an infrastructure to facilitate recycling by citizens who have to pay a waste disposal charge.

Consequently, the volume of waste generated has decreased by 60 per cent and recycling has increased 21 times. They have been able to abandon plans to construct two new incinerators.

Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa made a pledge in his 1999 policy address.

He talked of the establishment of a waste reduction committee and said its target was “to double the overall rate of municipal waste reduction and recycling” by 2007. He said the SAR had to step up its recycling efforts.

This has not happened. Coming back to the present, I believe Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah should have resigned once he realised that his department had failed to make the environmental improvements that are needed in Hong Kong.

Mr Yau has to be criticised for strongly supporting the building of an incinerator, given that it would have exacerbated our pollution problems.

Instead, he should have been vehemently and vociferously opposed to its construction and encouraged all government departments to support waste reduction and recycling activities so that such a facility was not necessary.

However, the department cannot single-handedly solve our environmental problems. The final responsibility must lie with the chief executive, who has failed to pull all interested parties together to take the necessary action.

In 2001, in a veiled criticism of the Hong Kong administration, former premier Zhu Rongji talked of “discussion without decision, decision without action”. It looks as though chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying will reorganise government departments, and this move is necessary if Hong Kong is to adapt to the 21st century.

Thomas Gebauer, Discovery Bay

Tsing Yi estate flat sells for record HK$2.85m

SCMP

the Tsang legacy madness – meanwhile at the same time our roadside pollution levels also increased markedly

Peggy Sito
May 04, 2012
Unable to afford that luxury property on The Peak? Moving downmarket may not be the answer, because Hong Kong’s sky-high property prices are spreading to public housing, with a Tsing Yi flat selling for an all-time high of HK$2.85 million.

The rising trend shows no sign of abating, said Patrick Chow Moon-kit, research head with property agent Ricacorp Properties, which compiled the data. He anticipates another record sooner rather than later.

“Home-seekers have been shifting to public housing as private homes become unaffordable. That boosts sales volume and transaction prices of public homes in the secondary market,” said Chow.

In a bid to improve home ownership for lower-income groups, the government launched a Tenants Purchase Scheme in 1998 allowing tenants in Housing Authority estates to buy their flats for much cheaper than the going private sector price.

The record-breaking deal lodged with the Land Registry is for a 626 square foot flat in Cheung On Estate in Tsing Yi, one of the first estates sold under the scheme. The price reflects an average value of HK$4,554 per square foot. The seller bought it from the Housing Authority in June 1998 for HK$220,000, or HK$351 per sq ft.

Cheung On Estate is sought after by homebuyers who cannot afford private homes because it is close to Tsing Yi station on the Airport Express Line and it has a sea view, Chow said.

A 643 sq ft unit in Tierra Verde, a popular private housing development in Tsing Yi, recently sold for HK$4.69 million, or HK$7,294 per sq ft, in the secondary market, according to Midland Realty.

Centaline Property Agency’s housing index showed that secondary market prices for private sector homes rose 2.11 per cent last month, from March. Prices are now 2.17 per cent above their last peak in 1997.

The sales volume for public flats also jumped last month, with 41 flats sold – a month-on-month rise of 24 per cent, according to Ricacorp Properties. “I expect to see another record-breaking deal next month,” said Chow of Ricacorp Properties.

He cited the case of a friend who was recently bidding for a public housing flat in Wong Tai Sin, but decided to retreat after a final bid of HK$2.9 million. “There were still three parties bidding with offers above HK$2.9 million,” Chow said.

Although this would break the Tsing Yi record, bidding results will not emerge until the Land Registry reveals transaction details next month.

peggy.sito@scmp.com

After hotel expense saga, Tsang cancels Japan trip

Gary Cheung and Danny Mok
May 04, 2012

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has abandoned plans to make a swansong trip to Japan following controversy over his lavish hotel expenses on an official visit to Brazil last month.

One critic said Tsang had learned a lesson from the storm over the Brazil trip.

The outgoing chief executive “actively considered” visiting Tokyo and Sendai from May 14 to May 16. He was to head a delegation of government officials and business leaders for three days of the seven-day itinerary organised by the Trade Development Council.

The visit was also to include a stop in Sendai to meet residents affected by last year’s tsunami and would have been Tsang’s last overseas trip before stepping down as chief executive next month.

But a spokeswoman for the Chief Executive’s Office said last night that Tsang abandoned the idea because he needed to oversee implementation of chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying’s proposed government restructure.

“There are a number of crucial bills the government is striving to secure passage for by the Legislative Council in the next two months. In view of the latest development, the chief executive decided to stay in Hong Kong,” the spokeswoman said.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung will replace Tsang as the head of the delegation.

The spokeswoman had no comment on whether Tsang’s decision was related to recent controversy sparked by a TVB (SEHK: 0511) report that he paid US$6,900 for a one-nightstay in the presidential suite of the Royal Tulip Brasilia Alvorada hotel last month and his alleged acceptance of favours from tycoon friends.

An office spokesman said last week that the 360 sq m suite at the Royal Tulip was booked to meet security needs and because it had a room for internal meetings and to receive local representatives, saving on the cost of renting a separate conference room. But Tsang did not receive local representatives in the room.

At the next stop, in Sao Paulo, Tsang stayed at the Renaissance Sao Paulo Hotel, payingUS$1,250 for one night at the second most expensive room, the Mayflower Suite.

Since April last year, Tsang has spent HK$4.2 million on nine official trips, excluding Brazil. During his tenure, Tsang made more than 50 overseas trips, costing more than HK$10 million. TVB also reported that during a trip to the United States in November Tsang reportedly stayed in a presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, costing taxpayers more than HK$40,000 a night.

Before the report, Tsang had already been besieged by a series of conflict-of-interest rows since February over alleged favours from tycoon friends, including trips on private jets and luxury yachts. Cheung Man-kwong, of the Democratic Party, said Tsang had apparently learned from the Brazil lesson. “There are many jobs for him to do in this transition period. It would not be responsible of him to travel up to the last minute [of his term].”

But Cheung said Tsang’s decision would not help stop the plunge in his popularity.