ENERGY-RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS - ASSESSING TRANSPORT AND INDUSTRIAL OPTIONS IN HONG-KONG

Experiences with two energy related pollution problems in Hong Kong are used to illustrate an evaluation framework for choosing among alternative forms of intervention. Often, different groups employ separate criteria (eg ease of monitoring predictability of costs) when recommending one form of control over another (eg fuel restrictions versus emissions taxes). This risks making the evaluation process piecemeal and ad hoc. The proposed framework focuses on the trade offs when one control option is chosen over others. The cases reviewed here also underscore the uses and pitfalls of using certain criteria as screening devices.