Our Contribution to the Environment

Building Partnerships

We will work with others and continue to build new partnerships in the pursuance of sustainable development objectives "

Image of Signing of Memorandom of Understanding with the Mainland on control of waste shipment
Image of Cooperation with Guangdong Authority to tackle environmental problems in the region_Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) Water Pollution Control Joint Implementation Programme
Image of Signing of the Year 2000 Work Plan with Environment Canada

Recognising the need to win support from all segments of society, we have been building partnerships with all relevant stakeholders and professionals at both national and local community levels. The experience EPD staff gain from these outside contacts is invaluable.

In 1999, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mainland State Environmental Protection Administration on the control of waste shipments across the border. We maintain regular contacts with the environmental authorities in the Mainland to tackle cross-border environmental issues.

We participated in the Hong Kong-Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group, which has now been replaced by the Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, to implement jointly environmental protection initiatives and conduct joint studies on mutual environmental issues. Both Governments have commissioned a joint study to investigate and develop joint action plans to tackle the air pollution problems in the Pearl River Delta Region. Both sides have also agreed to study the feasibility of adopting common standards for diesel fuel with a view to minimising emissions from the large number of vehicles crossing the border daily.

The MOU we signed with Canada in 1992 on environmental collaboration promotes and encourages cooperation and collaboration on environmental issues of mutual concern. Over the years, there have been useful exchanges of environmental information, professional workshops and meetings on pre-empting and controlling pollution problems. In 1999, another MOU was signed with the City of Vienna, and a workshop on Environmental Technologies is planned for 2000.

Image of Partnership with the private sector is vital in promoting environmental initiatives
Image of Meeting with District Council members
Image of Visiting a sewage treatment plant with District Council members

Locally, we have regular liaison meetings with the green groups to exchange views and work together on projects and campaigns. We collaborate with private sector companies in trial schemes - for example, we are testing Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel fuel with the bus companies in a pilot scheme. Formal channels of consultation on environmental issues are the statutory Advisory Council on the Environment and the Environmental Affairs Panel of the Legislative Council. In addition, we participate in District Council, industrial and business association meetings to explain new environmental initiatives and to seek their views.

At the professional level, we initiated the Professional Persons Environmental Consultative Committee that serves as a forum for local professional institutions to exchange views and develop professional practice notes on good environmental measures.