In a bid to protect environment amid the growing concern for Hong Kong's worsening air pollution, the government has decided to reduce electricity consumption by at least 1.5 percent this year, Chief Executive Donald Tsang said yesterday.

Tsang's pledge came as the government launched the Action Blue Sky campaign inviting business sector and educators to help clean the city's air.

Speaking at the campaign launching ceremony, Tsang said the electricity consumption in government offices per square meter had decreased by 2.7 percent from 262 units in 2002/03 year to 255 units.

Tsang said government departments were asked to set the air-conditioning at 25.5 degree Celsius in summer since last year.

Electricity consumption for government offices building during April to September 2005 had decreased by 2 percent compared with the same period in 2004.

"My goal is to reduce electricity consumption in government offices by at least a further 1.5 percent this year. I hope every commercial building management will consider measures to save energy - they will also be saving money and the environment," Tsang said.

The CE said each Hong Kong citizen used 5,700 units of electricity a year, and this caused air pollution because it was generated by fossil fuel.

He said electricity consumption could be saved by 3 percent a year if the air-conditioning temperature was increased by 3 degrees Celsius.

Tsang said Hong Kong and Guangdong were studying and adopting measures to improve air quality, and he would discuss the issue in the 9th Plenary of the Hong Kong/ Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference to be held in Guangzhou early next month.

Seventeen schools and 13 corporations took part in the campaign, pledging to implement green measures at their premises to conserve energy and reduce air pollution.

A series of publicity and education activities will be organized in the coming months to encourage the public in cleaning up the air.

These include roving exhibitions and a workshop in September reviewing the air quality objectives.

The Environmental Campaign Committee will join the District Councils and green groups to reinforce green messages, such as the 25.5 degrees Celsius air-conditioning, switching off idle engines and using energy-efficient products.

A seminar showcasing environmental practices in business and industrial operations will also be held in late November.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Department recorded a very high level of air pollution across the territory yesterday, underlining the urgency of government efforts in enhancing air quality.

The index for Causeway Bay and Mong Kok had once reached 110. In Central, the index had reached 130.

The department's principle environmental protection officer Raymond Leung said this was due to the effect caused by typhoon Kaemi.

"The wind of Southern China area is weak because of the typhoon. There was only sudden downpour yesterday, but there was no wind. The pollutants could not be spread away," he said.

Leung expected the situation to improve when the typhoon approached Fujian Province.

(China Daily HK Edition July 26, 2006)