Government
The government is also one of our
important partners. In April, representatives from the EPD and three
other Works Departments visited Japan to study road maintenance
work, in particular the use of quiet or low-noise construction equipment.
Since 1999, we have been working with the Government Supplies Department
(GSD) to establish green product specifications for commonly used
items, such as paper products. By the end of 2002, 37 product categories
carried green specifications. The information is available on the
EPD’s web page (http://www.epd.gov.hk) so the private sector and outside organisations can refer to it when buying their supplies. The GSD also requires suppliers to reduce packaging and, since 1997, it has arranged for a local oil recycler to collect waste oil from all government departments, recovering about 500 tonnes per year.
Waste
Partners
Waste reduction is a focus for many partnerships. In addition to addressing the issue with the government and through the partnerships described above, we have set up working groups with public transport companies, the Airport Authority, hotels, hostels, recreation clubs, and universities, tertiary institutes, recycling trade, packaging trade as well as retailers. We are also working with hospitals and clinics on the special problem of clinical waste. A producer responsiblity scheme has been set up with the mobile phone industry, which in April 2002 started taking back used batteries for recycling. Supermarkets also started taking back clean plastic bags during the year for recycling. Partnership on waste reduction has also been extended to the construction industry. A task force chaired by the Hong Kong Construction Association is set up to facilitate the use of recycled materials in construction works, which also has developed a waste management plan and guidelines for the construction operators. We also had partnered with a major private property management company in 2002 to promote waste reduction and recovery in 234 estates involving over 180,000 households. As a result, they had achieved their targets set for the year and reduced 10,300 tonnes and recovered 14,600 tonnes of waste.
Partnerships
with Users of EIAO
Since 2000, EPD has set up four User Liaison Groups on the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) with government departments, consultants, utility companies, and contractors and private developers. They each meet regularly with us to discuss issues of environmental concern and jointly work on guidance materials. Up to end 2002, 12 User Liaison Group meetings have been held and 8 sets of Guidance Note have been issued. In 2002 the group members were brought together for the first time for a major stakeholders congress on environmental assessment. It was a unique and fruitful session for raising awareness and letting stakeholders hear each others’ perspective.
Photo of EIAO User Liaison Congress
In addition, EPD established in
July 2002 the EIAO Support Section as a dedicated advisory unit
to run an EIA Training and Capacity Building Programme for Government
Works Departments to enhance their understanding of the EIA mechanism.
DEP officiated the programme commencement in November 2002 inviting
180 participants, many at directorate and senior professional level.
A total of 200 engineers and architects from all works departments
later attended eight tailor-made two-day workshops between November
2002 and March 2003. Each with customized and specific foci, these
interactive workshops provided a good forum to build partnership,
to share EIA knowledge and experience, and to strengthen two-way
dialogue. Materials and details from both the seminar and workshops
were posted on our webpage (http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia) to enhance further communication. In light of good feedback and requests, we will continue to deliver more workshops in 2003 and promote the programme to private sector.
Since July 2002, the EIAO Support Section has operated an EIA Helpdesk Hotline (Phone No 2802 3111) answering enquiries over the EIA mechanism. Up to mid-March 2003, the EIA Helpdesk has been providing assistance to over 50 enquiries from different sectors of the community including government engineers, residents site staff, consultants, contractors, general public and etc.
Consultation
Formal consultation on environmental issues is conducted through the 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. District Councils also work with the Environmental Campaign Committee on waste reduction and awareness-raising campaigns, as do green groups and community groups. We meet regularly with these groups to exchange views.
Others
We also work with the private sector on trial schemes, such as bus companies with whom we tested Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel fuel and the transport trades with whom we tried particulate removal devices. In 2002, we joined with the Hong Kong Society of Accountants to provide training in environmental management to its members.
Nationally
The EPD maintains regular contacts with authorities on the Mainland to tackle cross-boundary environmental issues. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mainland State Environmental Protection Administration on the control of cross-boundary waste shipments and an MOU with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA). The latter provides for Hong Kong's participation in China's National Marine Environment Monitoring Network, which is undergoing re-structuring. Hong Kong will join when that work is completed. In December 2002 we held a major conference for Hong Kong and Mainland officials on strategic environmental assessments.
The EPD also works with our counterparts in Guangdong on shared environmental issues. Through the Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, which was launched in 1999, a study of air pollution was completed in 2002. It recommended emission reduction targets and a plan of action. The Joint Working Group has also set up a Pearl River Delta Water Quality Protection Special Panel. In 2002 a contractor was appointed to develop a computerised water quality model for the delta.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen are working on a joint study of water pollution in Mirs Bay, which will be completed in 2003. They also co-operated on environmental impact assessments of the Shenzhen Western Corridor, which was completed in 2002. While both Shenzhen and Hong Kong conducted their own separate environmental impact assessments to meet each side’s requirement, the information was shared, so cumulative impacts could be addressed. Joint celebrations for World Environment Day, June 5, were organised during the year with our regional counterparts in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau, Dongguan and Zhongshan.
Internationally
We
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Air Resources
Board in 2002, to promote co-operation. The board has the most stringent
air quality standards in the world. We also have agreements with
Canada, Vienna and Australia to co-operate on environmental matters.
We organised the Better Air Quality Conference in 2002, which attracted more than 500 delegates from Asia, Europe and North America. This was the third such conference organised by the EPD. The previous two, in 1999 and 2000, focused on motor vehicle emissions, while the 2002 conference looked at a range of air issues, from climate change to monitoring.