Staff exchange programme between EPD and SEPA to enhance cooperation

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A staff exchange programme between the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) will be held in Beijing between October 19 and November 12.

"This is the EPD's first staff exchange programme with a national environmental authority," the Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment and Noise), Mr Elvis Au, said today (October 17).

The programme aims to share experience in Hong Kong's environmental impact assessment (EIA) system and expertise in managing environmental impacts of major development projects.

Principal Environmental Protection Officer Mr Simon Hui will take two Environmental Protection Officers, Mr Steve Li and Mr Matthew Chan, to participate in the exchange programme. All of them have extensive experience in the local EIA system. They will work at the EIA centre of the SEPA in Beijing.

"During the exchange, our colleagues will focus on technical support and personnel training for the setting up of an electronic EIA system including an intranet system for EIA management control and an internet system for networking with provincial governments.

"They will share with their Mainland counterparts their experience of a transparent web-based EIA system and the recently introduced three-dimensional public engagement tools for the EIA process.

"Our colleagues will also learn from their counterparts about the EIA system and practices in the Mainland," Mr Au said.

The mutually beneficial staff exchange programme is a key co-operation item under a regular exchange mechanism set up between the SEPA and the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau/EPD on EIA.

The programme reflects the Government's commitment to enhance co-operation and exchanges with the Mainland on environmental matters.

"It is a further concrete step to build on the collaboration we have already established with the SEPA on training and capacity building as well as sharing of experience and expertise.

"It also shows the recognition of the Mainland authority of Hong Kong's experience and expertise in environmental assessment matters," Mr Au said.

This exchange mechanism will also include a staff exchange programme in Hong Kong for SEPA officers early next year.

Other collaboration programmes between the Mainland and Hong Kong on EIA include Mr Au's participation in a training course on strategic environmental assessment organised by the World Bank and the SEPA in Shanghai between October 12 and 14. It was beamed real-time to distance learning centres in Beijing, Xinjiang and Washington DC.

Mr Au also previously participated in a train-the-trainer course of the SEPA for about 100 senior Mainland professionals and officials on strategic environmental assessment held in Beijing in March this year.

The EPD is also assisting the SEPA in organising an international conference on EIA to be held in Hainan in December, and in sharing EIA resource materials.

Ends/Sunday, October 17, 2004