Environment Bureau Environmental Protection Department ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2009 Small Medium Large 繁體 简体
Mission
To protect the environment by tackling cross boundary pollution problems and by promoting collaborative efforts through regional and international co-operation.
A NEIGHBOURLY APPROACH TO IMPROVING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Feature Article
Working with our neighbours
Cleaner Production Partnership Programme
The global benefits
Looking Ahead
Topical Issues
Resource Materials
Highlights in 2008
Hong Kong and Guangdong jointly announced the vision of transforming the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region into a low-carbon, high-technology and low-pollution city cluster of quality living.
   
The five-year "Cleaner Production Partnership Programme" was launched to encourage and facilitate Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices; a co-operation agreement on cleaner production was also signed with the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau.
   
The report on the Mid-term Review of the PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan was published.
   
The arrangements for the implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects in Hong Kong were finalised and announced.
   
The Central People's Government agreed on arrangements for implementing the Rotterdam Convention in Hong Kong.
   
Hong Kong and Macao agreed to further enhance environmental co-operation in areas such as air quality monitoring, waste management and public awareness activities on environmental issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL problems are trans-boundary by nature.  Hong Kong and Guangdong share the same air shed and water catchments, and have similar pressures on our land resources. It is neither practical nor effective for each administration to tackle these problems on their own.

Both sides have been working together on green issues for years, achieving such successes as the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regional Air Quality Management Plan and the new Cleaner Production Partnership Programme. This relationship was given a heightened focus in August 2008 when the Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR and the Governor of Guangdong announced that joint strategies would be drawn up to transform the PRD region into a low-carbon, high-technology and low-pollution city cluster of quality living.

The Chief Executive underscored this new vision in his 2008-09 Policy Address. He placed special emphasis on achieving a low-carbon economy which, apart from benefiting the region's environment, is also related to our international obligations. Hong Kong has given top priority to improving air quality and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, and we are making steady progress on those fronts, as described below.

Mr Donald TSANG, the Chief Executive, and Mr HUANG Huahua, the Governor of Guangdong Province (both centre), watch as delegates of the two governments sign cooperation agreements between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
Mr Donald TSANG, the Chief Executive, and Mr HUANG Huahua, the Governor of Guangdong Province (both centre), watch as delegates of the two governments sign cooperation agreements between Hong Kong and Guangdong.
Working with our neighbours
A better environment can enhance the appeal and competitiveness of both Hong Kong and Guangdong. With that in mind, the 11th Plenary of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference agreed to extend their joint work on specific issues, such as air and water pollution, to encompass a more all-round strategy for developing a "green and quality living area".

The concept was taken up at the 9th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (JWGSDEP) in December 2008, which will start investigating how it can support this goal in 2009.

There is already much ground to build upon. Under the auspices of the JWGSDEP, the PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan is helping to reduce air pollution emissions across the region and has set out targets for reducing four key air pollutants by 2010. A report on the Management Plan's mid-term review was released in 2008. Additional enhancement measures were identified and both sides re-confirmed their commitment to achieving their 2010 emission reduction targets (see the Air section for details of Hong Kong's programme). The Management Plan will continue to be a key area of work in 2009.

Deep Bay lies at the end of the Pearl River Estuary.

Deep Bay lies at the end of the Pearl River Estuary.
Water pollution has also seen much activity. An advanced computer modelling tool for water quality assessment was unveiled in 2008 and a review was completed of a joint programme for controlling pollution in Deep Bay. Both sides hope to progressively strengthen water pollution control collaboration in the Pearl River Estuary and neighbouring waters (see the Water section for details of Hong Kong's programme).

Another highlight of the JWGSDEP's work is the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme, which was launched in 2008 and promotes at-source reduction of pollution emissions and more efficient use of energy and resources by Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region (see details below).

All of these programmes will continue to be supported and enhanced as the two administrations consider how to broaden the scope of their environmental work.

Apart from provincial level co-operation, Hong Kong also works closely with our nearest neighbours. In 2008 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) signed a separate co-operation agreement on cleaner production with Shenzhen and agreed to continue tackling such issues as persistent organic pollutants, water quality management in Mirs Bay and Shenzhen River sediment remediation. We also held the first Hong Kong-Macao Environmental Forum and agreed with the Environment Council of Macao SAR to further strengthen co-operation in air quality monitoring, waste management and public awareness activities related to environmental issues.

Stronger ties with our neighbours, at all levels, will ensure we can tackle environmental problems from all angles.

Ms Anissa WONG, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment (centre right), and Ms GUO Yu Rong, the Director of the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau (centre left), sign the co-operation agreement on cleaner production between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the presence of principal officials of the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.
Ms Anissa WONG, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment (centre right), and Ms GUO Yu Rong, the Director of the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau (centre left), sign the co-operation agreement on cleaner production between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in the presence of principal officials of the HKSAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.
Cleaner Production Partnership Programme
Mr Edward YAU, Secretary for the Environment, speaks at the launching ceremony of the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme.

Mr Edward YAU, Secretary for the Environment, speaks at the launching ceremony of the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme.
Many of the factories in Guangdong are owned by Hong Kong people. The problem of industrial pollution, therefore, is a prime example of the need for cross-boundary co-operation to achieve a lasting solution.

The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme was launched in April 2008 by the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments. It provides professional advice and technical support on cleaner production technologies and practices to Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region, focusing on eight industry sectors: textiles, printing and publishing, metals and metal products, non-metallic mineral products, chemical products, food and beverage, paper and paper product manufacturing, and furniture making.

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is helping to implement the programme, in collaboration with environmental technology service providers across the region. The HKPC has developed cleaner production guidebooks and set up a dedicated website and an enquiry hotline for sharing information and successful experiences with industry.

Outreach activities and seminars have also been organised in six Guangdong cities and Hong Kong, and exhibitions of cleaner production technologies have been staged in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Macao. A total of 45 such activities were organised in 2008 and more than 6 000 people attended.

Furthermore, the Hong Kong Government has set aside more than $93 million to support awareness promotion and to subsidise factories for on-site assessments, demonstration projects and verification of the effectiveness of improvement projects. By year's end 93 applications had been approved.

This is just the beginning and we anticipate the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme will enable us to tackle more pollution problems at source and promote a "green ethos" among factory owners and operators in the region.

Representatives of EPD and the Economic & Trade Commission of Guangdong Province conduct a cleaner production training seminar in Shenzhen.
Representatives of EPD and the Economic & Trade Commission of Guangdong Province conduct a cleaner production training seminar in Shenzhen.
The global benefits
Cleaner production and the move to a low-carbon economy will have benefits beyond the PRD region. All of us contribute to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. Reducing these emissions would uphold our responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.

Hong Kong emitted 6.7 tonnes of greenhouse gases per capita in 2007, which is 3 per cent less than in 1990. Nonetheless, we want to do better. In addition to our joint efforts with Guangdong, a number of practical initiatives are underway to reduce emissions and secure cleaner ways of producing energy for Hong Kong.

Commencing a study on climate change in Hong Kong.

Commencing a study on climate change in Hong Kong.
We commissioned a study in March 2008 on how climate change might affect Hong Kong. This 18-month study will update the inventories of our greenhouse gas emissions, project trends under different scenarios, and recommend additional policies and measures that could reduce our emissions and help us to adapt to climate change.

We also finalised and announced arrangements in June 2008 for the implementation of Clean Development Mechanism Projects in Hong Kong, which aim to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to sustainable development. Other initiatives specifically related to energy consumption have also been introduced and are reported in the Energy section.

It is becoming increasingly clear that every time we act locally to reduce our environmental impacts, we can have positive regional and global impacts. Getting people to appreciate that connection will help us to secure their support for the fight against climate change and achieve a better environment for ourselves, our neighbours and our planet. Hong Kong will not shirk its responsibilities.


Looking Ahead
Discussions will be carried out with Guangdong authorities to take forward the initiative of transforming the PRD region into a green and quality living area.
   
Follow up measures to control air pollution will be pursued under the PRD Air Quality Management Plan to achieve the 2010 emission reduction targets.
   
Cleaner production will continue to be promoted to Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region.
   
Priority action items identified in the Hong Kong SAR Implementation Plan to manage persistent organic pollutants will continue to be implemented, as required by the Stockholm Convention.
 
 
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