|
Within Government, the Environment, Transport and Works 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).
In 2003, out of a departmental expenditure of $2.291 billion, 50
per cent was for contract payments for the treatment and disposal
of municipal and chemical wastes, 33.3 per cent was for staff costs
relating to our programme areas, 10.2 per cent was for capital expenditure
and 6.5 per cent was for general operating expenses.
Organisation
Chart of the Environmental Protection Department
|
|
Our
Vision is of a Hong Kong which enjoys an environment that is both
healthy and pleasant, in which the community places a premium on
sustaining such an environment both for themselves and for future
generations.
Our mission is to make our contribution towards realising this vision
by applying our professional knowledge and judgement and drawing
on our experience in the environmental field
|
to
formulate and implement plans to improve and safeguard the environment; |
|
to
increase community awareness of environmental issues; |
|
to
implement environmental protection legislation; |
|
to
participate in the town planning process; |
with
a view to achieving and maintaining a high standard of environmental
quality.
|
|
The department had an establishment of about 1 653 staff in 2003.
About 28 per cent are professionals, about 45 per cent are technical-grade
staff and the remaining 27 per cent are administrative and support
staff.
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 programme areas 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.
-
Enforce
the Road Traffic Ordinance against smoky vehicles.
Community
Relations Programme
-
Promote
community awareness through environmental campaigns, publicity,
education and action programmes.
-
Build
the capacity of stakeholders with the aim of enhancing environmental
awareness in the community.
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
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
plans for sewerage, sewage treatment and disposal facilities
and monitor their implementation to meet development needs and
environmental standards.
-
Enforce
the Water Pollution Control Ordinance.
|
|