Two significant events in 2004, one external, the other internal, put a new focus on the work of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and will have positive effects for years to come. First, we were able to establish regular exchanges and co-operation with the State Environmental Protection Administration on environmental protection issues. This was in addition to the on-going co-operation at the provincial level with Guangdong, which has enabled us to tackle in partnership with the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau such cross-boundary issues as water pollution in Deep Bay and regional air pollution. Second, we worked towards the merger of the EPD with the Environment Branch of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau on 1 April 2005. By bringing the policy-formulation and implementation functions under one roof, the re-constituted EPD reports to the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works direct. This arrangement greatly shortens the line of command and improves the overall efficiency, which places us in a much stronger position to rise to the challenges to our environment.

To internalize the cost of pollution to society, we are keen to promote the "polluter-pays" principle. We made significant progress in this area in 2004 by enacting the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 which introduced a charging scheme to the disposal of construction waste. We carried out a major public consultation exercise on the second stage of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, and obtained a clear direction from the community to take the scheme forward. We embarked on a public engagement process on how to tackle the growing problem of municipal solid waste, and set in train a pilot scheme on the sorting of household waste at source. As a rule, we make it a point to consult all interested parties at the earliest possible stages of policy development and project inception, including legislators, environmental groups, professional bodies, industry, business, community groups, academics and, of course, the general public.

We recognize many of our environmental programmes have economic and social impacts, and are prepared to address these important issues from a sustainability perspective. We have taken note of the Global Reporting Initiative and have incorporated its principles in this report where possible. At the same time, we are determined to maintain our core business and ultimate objective of protecting the environment.

K K Kwok, JP
Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Environment)/
Director of Environmental Protection

Readers are invited to comment on the EPD’s performance and this report and suggest areas of improvement, through the feedback form at the end of this report or by e-mail to <enquiry@epd.gov.hk>.