HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang vowed Wednesday in his first policy speech to expand democracy, lower pollution and retain good relations with Beijing.
Tsang, who took over Hong Kong's top job in June, said a committee responsible for studying democratic reforms would submit its report next week, which he described as a "key milestone" for democracy.
He said his government was discussing with Beijing reforms in selecting the next chief executive in 2007 and the next legislature in 2008.
He also said the government would tighten vehicle exhaust standards and emissions caps on two power stations in an effort to reduce the city's serious air pollution.
Hong Kong is working with neighboring Guangdong province, China's manufacturing hub, to curb outputs of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide by 2010.
The government hopes to improve the living environment to attract more foreign investment and talent. Hong Kong falls behind Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul in terms of air quality.
Tsang also said Chinese tourists from four additional cities -- Chengdu, Jinan, Shenyang and Dalian -- would be permitted to travel to Hong Kong on individual visas. The move expands a program that brought 4.2 million visitors from mainland China to Hong Kong last year.
