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Verification
Statement
Verification
Objectives
BMT Asia
Pacific Limited was commissioned by the Environmental Protection
Department (EPD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government to conduct
an independent verification of EPD's Environmental Performance
Report 2000. The objectives were to verify claims made in
the report and the systems for data collection. We were also
asked to assess the scope of the report in terms of its coverage
of EPD's significant environmental aspects and to provide
recommendations for improving future reports.
Approach
to Verification
This statement
represents a wholly independent opinion of Environmental Performance
Report 2000. BMT Asia Pacific was not involved in the preparation
of any aspect of the report. In conducting the verification,
site visits and meetings were held with professional and technical
staff. At these meetings, specific claims were discussed and
substantiated, and data was sampled and examined. Meetings
were also held with senior managers responsible for the main
environmental areas covered by the report.
Accuracy
of the Report
We have
investigated the following aspects of the main report text
and found them to represent an accurate account of EPD's actions
and performance in the past year
- Environmental
programme implementation and facility operation;
- Legal
compliance;
- Awareness,
training and communication; and
- Target
setting.
We have
also reviewed the system for the collection of the data presented
in the report. We have found the system robust and effective,
with information consistently reported according to the specified
parameters for data collection.
Scope
of the Report
Environmental
Performance Report 2000 provides a good account of performance
with respect to EPD's main areas of responsibility and key
programme areas.
While
EPD has a long history of reporting on the state of Hong Kong's
environment, this report represents the first time the Department
has reported on its own environmental performance. The report
includes information on the main impacts arising directly
from EPD's activities and operations and EPD's environmental
performance in areas such as legal compliance and resource
use. In areas relating to the implementation of the legislative
framework to control pollution and to EPD's internal environmental
performance, clear linkages between commitments in EPD's Environmental
Policy and the achievement of results have been identified.
The report
also covers the Department's role in programme implementation
and in influencing others within Government, business and
the community to improve their environmental performance.
In this regard, EPD's first environmental performance report
is a significant achievement and it stands at the forefront
of international reporting by a government body.
Recommendations
for Future Reports
In future
reports, EPD is encouraged to present the performance of the
Department against its policy and programme goals in a systematic
way. Commitments in the Environmental Policy should be comprehensively
and clearly linked to the achievement of environmental benefits
and/or the prevention, minimisation and control of impacts
arising from EPD's programmes and actions. EPD is also encouraged
to clarify the linkages between the Department's activities
and the furthering of sustainable development, in which it
plays an important role on behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government.
While
a significant number of targets have been included in this
report, EPD should pay special attention to the setting of
meaningful, measurable targets which are challenging and extend
beyond the implementation of programmes to include measures
for assessing the overall effectiveness of EPD's performance
in programme delivery.
Recommendations
for EPD
The programmes
implemented by the Department to control and minimise environmental
impacts arising from EPD's activities, and to improve the
environmental performance of the Government, business and
the community, are commendable.
Following
the lead of EPD's Waste Facilities Business Unit, the Department
is encouraged to extend its existing environmental management
system (EMS), which includes a rigorous environmental auditing
scheme, to meet the requirements of the ISO 14001 EMS Standard
where relevant and appropriate. This, along with the recommendations
above for improving future reports, will enhance EPD's ability
to systematically address its environmental performance and
reporting initiatives, and will further the Department's ongoing
commitment to environmental improvement.
Signature
of Norman J. Di Perno
Norman
J. Di Perno
Senior
Vice President, BMT Asia Pacific Limited
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