Hong Kong people naturally look to the government to solve environmental problems, given that it has the authority and resources to deal with pollution and build major infrastructure such as landfills and sewage systems. What many fail to appreciate, however, is that the government cannot improve the environment on its own. It is working with Mainland authorities on many cross-boundary pollution issues, but it also needs the support and co-operation of the community to achieve and pay for a healthier environment.

The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) and waste management in Hong Kong have reached critical points. In both cases, the community must decide what trade-offs they are willing to accept. Considerable investment is required to address both water and waste issues, and new waste facilities are needed which may be unpopular. The community must decide whether it is willing to spend the money, or accept the consequences: unhealthy water quality in Victoria Harbour and the gloomy prospect of exhausting all our waste disposal outlets within six to 10 years.

Hong Kong can deal with its water and waste issues on its own, but regional air quality requires co-operation with our neighbours. This has been achieved and many steps are being taken to address regional pollution. However, some will require additional investment or expense. Again, the community must decide what price it is willing to pay. This is part of sharing the responsibility of protecting the environment.

"Our vision is of a Hong Kong which enjoys an environment that is both healthy and pleasant, and in which the community places a premium on sustaining such an environment for both themselves and future generations."
Mr Rob Law, Director of Environmental Protection (Tenure from April 1996 to March 2005)

The EPD and green groups have for many years been the central players in organising environmental action and awareness campaigns. However, we recognise we could be even more effective by helping others to be leaders. The focus of our community work is shifting to capacity-building, to provide individuals and organisations with the tools and training to lead the way on green issues.

Schools are a central focus of the EPD's community work. Over the past 10 years, tens of thousands of students have been appointed as Environmental Protection Ambassadors, who organise activities in their schools. In 2004, we also provided schools with new environmental education packs for teachers tailored to specific subjects, such as Geography, Social Studies, Economics and Public Affairs. The Hong Kong Green School Awards programmes have also been organised to recognise and promote schools and pre-schools that adopt environmental management systems.

The EPD and Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) have been closely involved in promoting waste separation and recycling. In 2004 the pilot programme on "Source Separation of Waste" (also known as "Super 3R") was introduced, to extend and expand the collection of recyclables. The work is being carried out by property managers, with the EPD and ECC acting as facilitators. The government also facilitated others by providing funding and other support for community-based waste recovery projects.

The EPD's work is characterised by inclusiveness. We want to make it easier for all operators to comply with environmental laws, and for anyone to report pollution violations.

The EPD continued to enhance customer service in 2004 so complaints and enquiries could be dealt with promptly. A survey found 85 per cent of respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with our services. We also took steps to make it easier for operators to apply for and receive licences and permits on-line and this will be introduced in early 2005. The website itself has been enhanced to make it more reader-friendly.

The EPD has formal partnerships with four industries, construction, vehicle repair, restaurants and property management. We continued to hold joint activities related to their operations. We also worked with property managers on campaigns for waste reduction and the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS).

In addition to local partners, the EPD works with colleagues in other departments, the Mainland and overseas to address a wide variety of issues. In 2004 there was special focus on enforcement, reducing noise and environmental impact assessment.

Reaching a consensus on development proposals can be a difficult process given the technical nature of many projects. The EPD has been increasing its use of new technology to make it easier for people to understand proposals and widen the scope of public engagement. The goal is to ensure everyone can engage in an informed and meaningful dialogue on proposed developments at an early stage.

To support the concept of continuous public involvement in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, the EPD introduced the 3-D EIA public engagement tool in 2004. The tool enables people to see proposals in realistic visual form, thereby enhancing their understanding. Two mock projects were posted on our website and the first real project to incorporate the 3-D tool will be the EPD's Northeast New Territories landfill extension.

These were pilot tested in October 2004 to enable the public to provide input early in the planning process. At a forum on Kwai Tsing District Revitalization project, people's views were collected and recorded through the whiteboard for proponents to consider as they drafted development proposals.

Strategic environmental assessments assess the impacts of major policies and programme proposals. Currently the focus is on Hong Kong 2030, a long-term planning strategy. The EPD chairs the environmental working group which addresses the environmental issues, and the results are posted on the internet to facilitate public consultation.

Air quality visibly diminished in 2004. Despite our success in addressing motor vehicle and industrial emissions, Hong Kong still has much to do to achieve clean skies. The focus now is on the regional situation and requires close co-operation with Guangdong to identify and contain the sources of regional air pollution.

Air quality has been deteriorating as indicated by the appearance of more and thicker smog. The rapid development of Guangdong, coupled with Hong Kong's economic recovery in 2004, is putting extra pressure on air quality. Hong Kong and Guangdong are working on targets to improve the air by 2010.

Locally, Hong Kong has had great success in reducing motor vehicle emissions, in particular. It also proposed controls on volatile organic chemicals in 2004. The focus in future will be to address power plant emissions with power suppliers.

Guangdong also has taken many measures to reduce its impacts on air quality. Furthermore, Hong Kong and Guangdong are co-operating and sharing expertise so they can assess and reduce regional pollution together. It may take several years before results could be seen.

The EPD seeks to broaden people's understanding of the impacts of noise pollution. In 2004 we developed a three-dimensional (3-D) tool that helps non-experts visualise the noise and other impacts of proposed developments and compare different options. We also brought into effect an amendment to the Noise Control Ordinance that makes company directors liable for repeated noise violations, so they fully appreciate the impacts of this nuisance.

The EPD has developed a 3-D tool to aid public engagement in the environmental impact assessment process. It is particularly useful for noise because there have been misunderstandings in the past about the likely impacts of proposed projects. With the 3-D tool, people can see the impacts in visual form, compare different options visually and even zoom in on their own flat to consider how they would be affected.

An amendment to the Noise Control Ordinance came into effect in 2004 making company directors liable for repeated noise violations. It followed a pattern of multiple violations by some companies that regarded noise fines as the cost of doing business. Directors will be warned after a first offence and prosecuted if another offence occurs within two years.

The EPD is also keen to help operators reduce their noise impacts. It has been working with the Housing Authority to test quieter equipment for demolition work.

Hong Kong's landfills are running out of space, but no single, magic bullet will solve this problem. Rather, we need a package that involves complete waste reduction, recycling, treatment and disposal if we are to achieve a sustainable waste management strategy.

Waste arisings have grown beyond expectations over the past decade, particularly from the construction sector. Landfills will run out of space within six to 10 years, leaving barely enough time to build replacements.

The EPD is trying to make the existing landfills last as long as possible. Disposal charges for construction waste will be introduced in 2005, after winning approval from the Legislative Council in early 2005. This should provide economic incentives to waste producers to minimise waste generation and sort and recycle waste on-site, and reduce construction waste at landfills by about 20 per cent. Plans are also being investigated to extend the existing landfills and public communication on these plans will continue in 2005.

The domestic waste recycling scheme will be expanded, following a successful trial in 2004 to collect recyclables on each floor of apartment blocks (rather than the ground floor only) and to widen the range of recyclables collected. The government is also helping the recycling industry to secure land for setting up recycling businesses.

Integrated waste management facilities, which involve large-scale volume reduction treatment technologies, will need to be built to reduce the bulk of waste going to the landfills. The public will be consulted in 2005 on the various possibilities and options. Additionally, new landfill space will need to be identified in the near future. Our public education programme will also be strengthened.

Victoria Harbour continues to be a central focus for water pollution issues and considerable investment is still needed to finish cleaning up its waters. However, the EPD is also aware of the need to look beyond sewage collection and treatment to other solutions. Re-use of treated effluent, water conservation and storm water pollution also need to be addressed if we are to achieve a total water management strategy.

The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) is being introduced in phases. The first phase has successfully reduced pollution in the eastern harbour. The second and final phase will address the western and central harbour. The government proposes to split this phase into two stages to stagger the cost, and to introduce disinfection in the treatment process. The public was consulted on the proposal in 2004 and the government will report to the Legislative Council in 2005.

Preparations were made in 2004 for a pilot scheme to recycle, or "reclaim" treated effluent for such uses as flushing and irrigation; the project will commence in 2006. The EPD also supports the Water Supplies Department's promotion of water conservation as this can reduce loads at sewage plants. We also completed a study on storm water pollution, which revealed 12 per cent of biological oxygen demand in one catchment was ending up in storm water drains rather than sewers. The problem requires a holistic approach which addresses all relevant pollution sources in an effective way.

The EPD's enforcement arm, the Local Control Division, changed its name in 2004 to the Environmental Compliance Division to reflect the importance of partnerships in controlling pollution. Formal partnerships have been established with various industries, but the EPD also co-operates extensively with other Hong Kong SAR Government departments and other governments to contain illegal activities.

The EPD works with other governments extensively on the problem of transboundary waste shipments. We have liaised with our major trading partners on the issue and joined monitoring networks in Europe and Asia. In 2004 we experienced an influx of electronic and plastic waste, and addressed this problem in co-operation with other departments, Mainland authorities and overseas governments.

Apart from waste shipments, we work with other departments on a range of issues. They can provide information, help with surveillance and tackle environmental problems from angles beyond the EPD's remit. Examples of our joint efforts include addressing odours from storm water drains in Kennedy Town and reducing emissions from crematoria.

The impetus of reaching out to others extends to our internal operations. Integrated enforcement has been introduced in all our offices to train inspectors to detect violations of all types of pollution, rather than focus on single issues.