Environment Bureau Environmental Protection Department ENVIRONMENT HONG KONG 2009 Small Medium Large 繁體 简体
Feature ArticleSummary of HighlightsLooking Ahead
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Summary of highlights in 2008
 
Cross-boundary and International Co-operation
   
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 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 implementing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Hong Kong were announced.
   
   
Community Awareness
   
$1 billion was injected into the Environment and Conservation Fund and new priority funding areas were identified, including energy efficiency and conservation, waste reduction, and minor works for greening.
   
The Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence was officially launched and attracted more than     2 000 entries for Environment Labels and more than 360 entries under the Sectoral Awards.
   
The Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre opened, a joint project of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the University of Hong Kong.
   
   
Customer Service and Partnerships
   
A study on controlling cooking fumes was completed by the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, supported by the EPD.
   
The EPD and Hong Kong Polytechnic University collaborated on developing training courses for Environmental Officers on construction sites.
   
   
Environmental Assessment and Planning
   
A library of 3-D electronic visualisations of the major findings in EIA reports was established on our website.
   
   
Air
   
The Air Pollution Control Ordinance was amended in July 2008 to allow emission caps for power plants to be stipulated by technical memorandum and introduce emissions trading as an alternative means of achieving the caps from 2010.
   
A 5-month public consultation on a proposal to ban vehicles from running their engines while idling was completed. The proposal was revised in light of the feedback and further consultations with the transport trades were carried out.
   
 
Noise
   
Low-noise road surfaces had been applied to 37 local road sections by the end of 2008, benefiting       70 000 people.
   
Work was underway to retrofit noise barriers on 10 road sections.
   
The coverage of Designated Areas under the Noise Control Ordinance was expanded to protect more residents from construction noise.
   
   
Waste
   
The Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste was extended to 996 housing estates and a similar programme was introduced in 437 commercial/industrial buildings.
   
The Building (Refuse Storage and Material Recovery Chambers and Refuse Chutes) Regulations were amended to require new domestic buildings and the domestic part of new composite buildings to provide a refuse storage and material recovery room on every floor.
   
The Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance (Cap 603) was enacted by the Legislative Council to enable mandatory producer responsibility schemes. The first scheme will be introduced for plastic shopping bags.
   
Engineering investigation and environmental studies were initiated for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 and Organic Waste Treatment Facilities Phase 1, and work proceeded on extending the three strategic landfills.
   
   
Water
   
An advanced numerical water quality model for the Pearl River Estuary Region was developed with the Guangdong Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau.
   
The first review of the regional water quality control strategy for Mirs Bay was initiated with the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau.
   
Construction began on the Advance Disinfection Facilities for the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A.
   
A study on the co-use of land for HATS Stage 2B was commissioned.
   
   
Nature Conservation
   
The Chief Executive announced in his 2008-09 Policy Address that the Government planned to set up a geopark under the framework of the Country Parks Ordinance and Marine Parks Ordinance.
   
The Advisory Council on the Environment supported a proposal for the first Public-Private Partnership conservation scheme at Sha Lo Tung.
   
The Lantau North (Extension) Country Park was opened, making it the 24th country park in Hong Kong.
   
   
Environmental Compliance
   
The EPD's Customer Service Centre handled 33 482 enquiries. The EPD also received 25 206 complaints and launched 513 prosecutions.
   
   
Energy
   
A Memorandum of Understanding on energy co-operation was signed between the Hong Kong SAR Government and the National Energy Administration that secures a long-term and stable supply of clean energy to Hong Kong.
   
The Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance (Cap. 598) was enacted to implement the initial phase of the mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme, which covers room air conditioners, refrigerating appliances and compact fluorescent lamps.
   
A public consultation exercise on the proposed mandatory implementation of Building Energy Codes was concluded and the first guideline for conducting carbon audits of buildings in Hong Kong was launched.
   
   
Sustainable Development
   
The Council for Sustainable Development submitted its Report on the Better Air Quality Engagement Process, with recommendations on the way forward, to the Government.
   
 

 

 
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