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Organisation,
Programmes and Responsibilities
WITHIN
GOVERNMENT, the Environment and Food Bureau has overall policy
responsibility for the environment, while the Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) implements environmental plans
and legislation as well as advises on policy and new initiatives.
The EPD was established on 1 April 1986, with staff and resources
from six government departments and the aim of bringing the
majority of pollution prevention and control activities under
one organisation.
The department's
responsibilities include implementing environmental policy
and plans; promoting community environmental awareness; enforcing
environmental legislation; monitoring environmental quality;
providing collection, transfer, treatment and disposal facilities
for many types of waste; advising on the environmental implications
of town planning and new policies; and handling pollution
complaints and incidents. These responsibilities are organised
under seven programme areas (see below).
The department
employs about 1,600 staff, about one-quarter of whom are professional
staff, half are technical-grade staff and the remainder are
administrative and support staff.
In 2000,
out of a departmental expenditure of about $2.8 billion, about
70% was for capital expenditure and contract payments for
the treatment and disposal of municipal and chemical wastes,
26% was for staffing, and 4% was for general operating expenses.
Organisation
Chart of Environmental Protection Department
Apart
from the EPD, other government departments are also responsible
for environmental initiatives that are related to their areas
of responsibility. For example, the Electrical and Mechanical
Services Department is responsible for energy efficiency,
while the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
is responsible for nature conservation.
Our aims
and objectives under each of our various programmes are as
follows:
Air
Programme
- Achieve
and maintain satisfactory air quality through intervention
in the planning process.
- Participate
in the risk management of potentially hazardous installations
and in matters related to energy and global warming.
- Enforce
the Air Pollution Control and Ozone Layer Protection Ordinances.
Community
Relations Programme
- Promote
community awareness through environmental campaigns, publicity,
education and action programmes.
Environmental
Assessment and Planning Programme
- Pre-empt
environmental problems associated with projects, plans,
policies and strategies by assessing their environmental
impacts and implementing preventive and mitigatory measures
where potential problems are identified.
- Strive
for the best possible environmental performance in both
the public and private sectors.
- Enforce
the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.
Noise
Programme
- Prevent,
minimise and resolve noise problems through intervention
in the planning process.
- Enforce
the Noise Control Ordinance.
Waste
Programme
- Establish
a framework of legislative and institutional controls to
safeguard the health and welfare of the community from the
adverse environmental effects associated with the improper
handling and disposal of waste.
- Enforce
the Waste Disposal and Dumping at Sea Ordinances.
Waste
Facilities Programme
- Develop
plans and programmes for the minimisation of waste.
- Provide
facilities for managing any residual waste in a cost-effective
and environmentally acceptable manner.
- Coordinate
and manage the implementation of plans and programmes relating
to waste minimisation and waste facilities.
Water
Programme
- Develop
plans and programmes to ensure the quality of inland and
marine waters meets with our conservation goals.
- Formulate
and implement sewerage and sewage treatment systems that
operate safely and effectively.
- Enforce
the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
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