Our Responsibilities
Achievements in 2004

Our Responsibilities

We will contribute actively to government-wide policies and programmes that support sound environmental management and sustainable development, and we will advise the government on the environmental impacts of strategic development proposals.

Achievements in 2004
Input on Major Policies and Strategies
Regional Co-operation
Improving Government's Performance

Input on Major Policies and Strategies

Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs): The EPD manages the SEAs of major policies and strategies. In 2004, work focused on the SEA for Hong Kong 2030 (HK2030), a major study on the future development of Hong Kong. The EPD chairs the environmental study management group, which also includes members of academia, green groups, and professional bodies. All interim SEA reports and working papers on HK2030 have been posted on the HK2030 website. Three rounds of formal public consultations have been carried out and a fourth and final round will be held in 2005. Separately, an SEA on the territory-wide implementation study for water-cooled air conditioning systems in Hong Kong was completed and will be uploaded on the EPD website in 2005.

SEA Manual: The Hong Kong Strategic Environmental Assessment Manual was finalised in 2004, and has been posted on the EPD website. It is a useful reference for government officials, decision makers and local and international professionals involved in the formulation of policies, plans and programs which might have significant environmental implications.

Environmental Paragraphs: The EPD reviews and comments on the environmental implications sections contained in submissions to the Policy Committee, the Executive Council, the Legislative Council's Public Works Sub-committee and Environmental Affairs Panel, and other official bodies. In 2004, more than 130 environmental implications sections were reviewed.

Sustainable Development Unit: The EPD contributes environmental information to the Government's Sustainable Development Unit, which was set up in 2001.

Regional Co-operation

Liaison with SEPA: The EPD has secured approval to deal directly with the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) on EIA related matters, rather than going through the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. The first formal exchange was held in 2004. Three EPD staff spent one month at SEPA's head office in Beijing in the autumn, and SEPA staff will visit Hong Kong on exchange in 2005. In addition, the Assistant Director (Environmental Assessment and Noise) contributed to two major training sessions on the Mainland to train about 300 professionals and officials as trainers.

EPD colleagues participate in the staff exchange programme with SEPA in Beijing in October.

Mr Elvis Au, Assistant Director of EPD, conducts a training course on strategic environmental assessment at Shanghai in October.

1st China International Forum on EIAs: The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau and the EPD were co-organisers of the first China International Forum on Environmental Impact Assessment, along with SEPA, Hainan Province's Land, Environment and Resources Bureau, the Chinese Society for Environmental Scientists and the International Association of Impact Assessment. The event was held in BoAo on Hainan Island in December 2004 and sponsored by SEPA. Hong Kong's Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, was one of the keynote speakers of the forum.

Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development: The Joint Working Group, set up in 1999, continued to address cross-boundary issues. Work proceeded on a regional air quality plan and on managing cross-border EIAs, in particular the Tonggu Channel of Shenzhen Port and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge. Both sides were also preparing for a review of the Deep Bay Water Quality Improvement programme.

Improving Government's Performance

The EPD supports measures to improve the Government's environmental performance. In 2000 all departments and bureaux had to start producing annual environmental performance reports. Commencing 2003, the EPD has provided training and a benchmarking tool on environmental performance report. In 2004 it also launched a Cyber Helpdesk on its website to provide further support.

The EPD is also following the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau's directive in 2004 to set the thermostat at all government offices at 25.5 degrees Celsius.