Environmental Performance Report 2005
Environmental Protection Department

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| Foreword | 1 Environmental Policy | 2 Organisation, Programmes and Responsibilities | 3 EPD Offices and Facilities | 4 Our Influence and Impact on the Environment | 5 Our Contribution to the Environment | 6 Our Own Operations | 7 Progress on Year 2004 Targets | 8 Targets for 2005 | 9 Verification Statement | 10 Feedback Form |

2 Organisation, Programmes and Responsibilities

| Our Vision | Our Mission | Management | Finances | Responsibilities | Programmes | Changes Ahead for EPD - Re-organisation |


Our Vision

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 for both themselves and future generations.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to make our contribution towards realising this vision by applying our professional  knowledge and judgement and drawing on our experience in environmental protection and conservation

•  to formulate policies and plans on environmental protection and conservation;
•  to increase community awareness of environmental protection and conservation issues;
•  to implement environmental protection legislation and plans; and
•  to participate in the town planning process

with a view to achieving and maintaining a high standard of environmental quality and conservation.

Management

The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau has overall policy responsibility for the environment. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) implements environmental plans and legislation, as well as advises on policy and new initiatives. Plans were underway in 2004 for a merger between the environment arm of the bureau and the EPD.

The department had an establishment of about 1 617 staff in 2004. Some 28 per cent were professionals, 45 per cent were technical-grade staff and the remaining 27 per cent were administrative and support staff.


Finances

In 2004, the total departmental expenditure was $2.179 billion. Of that amount, 51.7% was for contract payments for the treatment and disposal of municipal and chemical wastes, 34.1% was staff costs, 8.2% was capital expenditure and 6% was general expenses.


Responsibilities

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. Responsibilities are distributed across six divisions and 1 unit (see Organisation Chart of the Environmental Protection Department below) covering seven programme areas (see Programmes below). These 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.

Organisation Chart of the Environmental Protection Department

Other government departments are also responsible for environmental initiatives 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.


Programmes

The EPD has seven programme areas. Our aims and objectives under these 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.

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, implementation of noise abatement measures and enforcement of 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.
• 
Co-ordinate 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.

Changes Ahead for EPD - Re-organisation

The Environmental Protection Department will merge with the environment branch of the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau from 1 April 2005, a move that should help to make us more efficient and focused. The Director of Environmental Protection will report directly to the Principal Official, the Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works, and, for the first time, will be responsible for policy-making. This arrangement will better align our priorities with the policy agenda set by the Secretary and help raise the profile of environmental issues.

In preparation for the change, the EPD began re-structuring internally in 2004. The Local Control Division was renamed Environmental Compliance Division, to reflect its work in fostering partnerships with industry. The six Local Control Offices from which local enforcement work was carried out were restructured into four Regional Offices. The division also took over responsibility for territorial control, enforcing legislation on such issues as environmental impact assessments, asbestos, ozone-depleting substances and dumping at sea.

Other important changes include the establishment of a new division to focus on liaison with the Mainland on cross-boundary issues, and separate divisions to deal with waste and water policy matters.

Organisation Chart of the Environmental Protection Department as of 1 April 2005

 


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