Environmental Performance Report 2007

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| Foreword | Chapter 1 Scope of Report | Chapter 2 Vision and Strategy | Chapter 3 Organisation and Governance | Chapter 4 Stakeholder Engagement | Chapter 5 Sustainability at EPD ¡V Economic Impacts | Chapter 6 Sustainability at EPD ¡V Environmental Impacts | Chapter 6 - Part A Environmental Impacts of Policies and Programmes | Chapter 6 - Part B Environmental Impacts of Internal Operations | Chapter 7 Sustainability at EPD ¡V Social Impacts | Chapter 8 Targets - Progress review and setting for 2007 | Appendix I Environmental Policy | Appendix II EPD Offices and Facilities | Appendix III Environmental performance reports of government bureaux/departments and agencies | Verification Statement | Feedback Form |

Chapter 4   Stakeholder Engagement

1.   The EPD aims to take account of community concerns and operators' needs when proposing policies and programmes. Stakeholders are engaged on many levels, as described below. We also submit our policies to the scrutiny of the Legislative Council and the Advisory Council on the Environment, and have frequent contacts with members of both councils. District Councils are also briefed on matters affecting their districts and have been partners in our awareness-raising campaigns.

Engaging the Public

2.   The general public is consulted on major policies and invited to comment either through community-wide public consultation or smaller, more focused public engagement workshops. Some key examples of our consultation efforts are described below. We also run education programmes to raise community awareness as described in Chapter 7.

Water issues

3.   The development of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) has included a high degree of public consultation. In 2004 the public was consulted for five months on the final options for the scheme, and was generally supportive of a two-phased approach. Stakeholders and the community-at-large were also consulted and supportive of higher sewage charges to fund HATS and other sewage treatment infrastructure. A proposal for gradual increases will now be put before the Legislative Council in 2007 (see Chapter 5). Green groups, professionals and other interested stakeholders are also being informed and consulted on the environmental impact assessment for disinfection facilities, which will be completed in 2007.

Waste issues

4.   "A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014)" was released in December 2005 and public views were subsequently collected through various channels. A dedicated email account and a Public Affairs Forum administered by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) were set up to receive public's comments and views. An open forum held by the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) provided a platform for communication with green groups, waste management practitioners, the recycling industry, and other interested parties and members of the public. Overall there was general support for the Policy Framework.

5.   Kwai Tsing District Council and residents of Tsing Yi were briefed in 2006 on plans to expand the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre by installing facilities to treat clinical waste and at the same time upgrade the Centre to meet the lateste European Union (EU) emission standards. The EPD also pursued continuous public involvement in the feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments for landfill extensions.

6.   In late 2006, we launched a Trial Scheme on Municipal Solid Waste Charging (see details in Chapter 5), in which residents, managers and other stakeholders of 20 housing estates were invited to participate in the trial and to provide their feedback through a questionnaire survey. Their suggestions will be useful for reference in drawing up practicable options for a charging scheme, which we plan to consult the public on later in 2007.

Noise issues

7.   A three-and-half-month public consultation was held on A Draft Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Road Traffic Noise in Hong Kong, released in 2006 (see Noise of Chapter 6 - Part A for details). Several open forums were organised to explain the plan to the public, and a wide range of stakeholders was consulted on their views, including the public transport operators, professionals, academia, developers, green groups and the general public. The Draft Comprehensive Plan was also uploaded to the Public Affairs Forum web site hosted by HAB for discussion amongst forum members. More than 130 submissions were received by the time the consultation closed in mid-November and they are being analysed for input into the plan.

Photo - EPD officers explain the Draft Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Road Traffic Noise in Hong Kong in a seminar.

Engaging Operators

8.   The EPD communicates directly with operators who are the main targets of our policies. We have formal partnership programmes with the construction industry, restaurants, vehicle repair workshops and property management companies, to provide advice, encourage greener practices and receive feedback on our programmes. In 2006 we opened a Compliance Assistance Centre to provide advice and assistance to other industries as well (see Partnerships of Chapter 6 - Part A for details).

9.   Our waste reduction programme features several key partners, who are assisting in implementing voluntary programmes. The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Programme is operated by a working group whose membership comprises industry and green groups; the EPD is also a member. Ten major retail chains entered into a voluntary agreement with the EPD in 2006 to reduce plastic bag use. Recycling programmes for waste electrical and electronic equipment and waste computers have been contracted out to two voluntary groups, St James Settlement and Caritas. In 2006 this was expanded to include a new trial with the Chamber of the Hong Kong Computer Industry.

10.   In addition, we have established User Liaison Groups with key sectors with potentially significant impacts on the environment - government works departments, consultants, contractors, private developers and public corporations. Meetings are held periodically to discuss new developments and issues of concern.