Asia-Pacific News
Hong Kong leader walks 300 metres to work on World Car Free Day
Sep 22, 2010, 7:23 GMT
Hong Kong - Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang walked 300 metres to work on Wednesday after being pressed by green groups to set an example for World Car Free Day.
The 65-year-old Beijing-appointed chief executive normally uses a chauffeur-driven Lexus or Mercedes car to travel the short distance from his residence to the Hong Kong government offices.
His decision to walk to work on World Car Free Day, an annual event which was first held in 2000 and now involves an estimated 1,000 cities in 40 countries, followed a campaign by environmental groups for Hong Kong officials to lead by example.
Hong Kong's Environment Secretary Edward Yau also left his car at home and caught the underground Mass Transit Railway for a meeting at the legislature.
Greenpeace campaigner Gloria Chang applauded Tsang's action on Wednesday, but added, 'He should walk to work every day. It is only about 500 steps from his home to the government offices.'
Chang said too many senior officials in the former British colony travelled by fuel-hungry chauffeur-driven cars. 'Senior officials need to rethink their way of life,' she said.
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