Chapter 6 - Part A   Environmental Impacts of Policies and Programmes

1.   Our work is divided into six programme areas: air, environmental assessment and planning, conservation, noise, waste and water. We also carry out activities that straddle two or more programme areas through the operations of environmental compliance, and cross-boundary and international co-operation. Our major achievements in 2006 are described here. Further details of our work can be found in our homepage.

AIR

AIM
To achieve and maintain satisfactory air quality through intervention in the planning process and enforcement of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance and other statutory requirements.

Air Quality

2.   Air quality is monitored at 11 general stations and three roadside stations (see map in Figure 1). In 2006, the Air Pollution Index exceeded 100 on 57 days as compared with 49 days in 2005 and 87 days in 2004 (readings over 100 indicate non-compliance with short-term Air Quality Objectives). Details of monitoring results by pollutant and location can be seen in Table 1.

Figure 1 - Location of EPD's Air Quality Monitoring Stations.

Table 1 - Compliance Status of Long-term (1-year and 3-month average) Air Quality Objectives (AQO) in 2006.

Station		Sulphur Dioxide 1-year	Nitrogen Dioxide 1-year	Total Suspended Particulates 1-year	Respirable Suspended Particulates 1-year	Lead 3-month
General Station	Central/Western	.	.	.	.	.
	Eastern	.	.	--	.	--
	Kwai Chung	.	.	x	x	.
	Kwun Tong	.	.	.	.	.
	Sham Shui Po	.	.	.	.	--
	Tsuen Wan	.	.	x	x	.
	Sha Tin	.	.	.	.	--
	Tai Po	.	.	.	.	--
	Tung Chung	.	.	.	x	.
	Yuen Long	.	.	x	x	.
	Tap Mun	.	.	--	.	--
Roadside Station	Causeway Bay	.	x	--	x	--
	Central	.	x	--	x	--
	Mong Kok	.	x	x	x	.
Notes: "." Complied with AQO "x" Violated with AQO "--" Not measured

Regional Co-operation

3.   The Hong Kong and Guangdong governments are co-operating to reduce air pollution to well below 1997 levels by 2010. They launched a joint regional air quality monitoring network in November 2005, with 13 stations in Guangdong and three in Hong Kong. A report on the network's first six months of operation was issued on 31 October 2006. The two administrations also began a mid-term review of their Management Plan to assess effectiveness and formulate further action as necessary (see also Cross-boundary and International Co-operation, below).

4.   The Government is confident Hong Kong can achieve its 2010 targets and is currently focused on reducing emissions from power plants, the major local source of sulphur dioxide pollution, as well as other polluting sources.

Controlling Emissions

Power plants

5.   Power plants are Hong Kong's largest contributors to regional air pollution, accounting for 91 per cent of sulphur dioxide, 50 per cent of nitrogen oxides and 48 per cent of respirable suspended particulates emissions in Hong Kong in 2005. In 2006 we continued to impose caps on total yearly emissions from power plants when they renewed their specified processes licences; previously a cap was imposed on hourly pollution concentrations and rates. In February, Hong Kong's first wind power station was in commercial operation.

Phasing Out HCFCs

6.   Hong Kong adheres to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and we are phasing out the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Since January 2004, the import quota of HCFCs has been reduced by 35 per cent. The EPD has advised stakeholders to replace air-conditioning and refrigeration systems that use HCFCs with systems using environmentally friendly refrigerants in order to reduce the import quota by 65 per cent in 2010 and by 90 per cent in 2015.

Volatile Organic Compounds

7.   A draft Regulation to ban products in excess of prescribed limits of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was prepared in 2006. It was expected to be implemented from 1 April 2007. Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world to impose VOC limits on products.

Motor Vehicle Emissions

8.   Our programme to control motor vehicle emissions continued in 2006, with Euro IV emission standards for newly registered vehicles being introduced in phases on a par with the European Union (Euro IV motor petrol and motor diesel are already our statutory standards). We also made it a mandatory requirement for all pre-Euro diesel vehicles, except long idling ones, to be retrofitted with approved emission reduction devices. Since 1999 roadside levels of nitrogen oxides have fallen 19 per cent and respirable suspended particulates 13 per cent.

Review of Air Quality Objectives

9.   The Government announced in 2006 that it would review Air Quality Objectives and examine the applicability of the latest reviews of air quality standards by the World Health Organisation, European Union and United States. The 18-month study will be commissioned in 2007 and will also include a brief to devise a comprehensive air quality management strategy for Hong Kong for the next two decades. The public will be consulted and engaged throughout the process.

Planning Advice

10.   The EPD provides professional advice in the planning processes for strategic planning, land use and transport. In 2006 we provided advice in 622 cases (see Figure 2a and 2b).

Figure 2a - Statistics of Air Planning Advice in 2006.
Figure 2b - Yearly Statistics of Air Planning Advice.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING

AIM
To pre-empt environmental problems associated with projects, plans, policies and strategies by assessing their environmental implications and ensuring that effective preventive and mitigatory measures are implemented where potential problems are identified.

Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs)

11.   SEA studies are carried out on major planning and development proposals such as the Hong Kong 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy. The application of SEAs in Hong Kong was reinforced in October 2005 when the Chief Executive announced that all major Government policy proposals would be subject to environmental protection scrutiny. In 2006 the EPD enhanced the guidelines and procedures for bureaux and departments to follow when formulating major policy proposals. Bureaux and departments would also need to report the environmental implications when submitting their proposals to the Policy Committee, the Executive Council, the Legislative Council's Public Works Sub-committee and Environmental Affairs Panel, and other official bodies. In 2006 the EPD reviewed over 40 SEA and planning studies, and over 200 environmental implication sections.

12.   The SEA Knowledge Centre, a web site established by EPD in late 2005 to promote the use of SEAs, received about 530 000 hits in 2006. It was also enhanced last year with the addition of information on overseas SEAs in various sectors, such as tourism, trade, waste management and transportation.

Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)

13.   The EIAO has been applied since 1998, protecting approximately 1.5 million people and many ecologically sensitive areas. By the end of 2006, environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for 103 projects worth about $340 billion combined had met EIAO requirements and been approved.

14.   In 2006 the EPD prepared new environmental outcome profiles, which feature useful results and mitigation measures from previous EIAs. The intention is to make these widely available as a reference for project proponents, consultants and the public in 2007.

Public Engagement

15.   The EPD is promoting the use of the 3-D EIA public engagement tool in major projects to facilitate continuous public involvement and help people better understand key EIA findings. By the end of 2006, CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd's liquefied natural gas terminal was the first major project for which a 3-D EIA report was prepared to visualise key EIA findings. The 3-D EIA report was made available at the EIAO Register Office and other listed offices during the public inspection stage. A requirement to include 3-D visualisations has been included in the study briefs of 16 major infrastructure projects.

Photo - A 3-D tool was made available to the public during the inspection period for the South Soko EIA, one of the sites under consideration for CLP's proposed liquefied natural gas terminal.

CONSERVATION

AIM
To conserve the natural resources and bio-diversity of Hong Kong and promote efficient use of energy in a sustainable manner, taking into account social and economic considerations, for the benefit of the present and future generations of the community.

Energy Conservation

16.   The Government is striving to set an example to the rest of the community on energy conservation. As standard house keeping practices, all bureaux and departments have been implementing a series of energy saving measures, including maintaining air-conditioned room temperatures at 25.5 degrees Celsius in summer months. Energy wardens have also been appointed to tighten the implementation of energy saving measures. In July 2006, the Government launched the Action Blue Sky Campaign to encourage the community to follow suit. The Government also endorsed the Clean Air Charter launched by the Hong Kong business community to promote community participation in improving air quality (see details in Chapter 6 - Part B).

Photo - The Chief Executive, Mr Donald TSANG (right), and the former Secretary for the Environment Transport and Works, Dr Sarah LIAO (left), officate at the Launching Ceremony of Action Blue Sky Campaign.

17.   Legislation for a mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme has been prepared and will be introduced into the Legislative Council in the second quarter of 2007. Progress is also being made towards the target of sourcing 1-2 per cent of Hong Kong's electricity supply from renewable sources by 2012, with both power companies taking positive steps in the application of wind energy in Hong Kong (see Air section above for details).

Nature Conservation

18.   Two pilot Schemes were announced under Hong Kong's New Nature Conservation Policy in November 2004. The Pilot Scheme for Management Agreements, which allows non-government organisations to apply for government funding to provide landowners with financial incentives for protecting ecologically sensitive sites, has started three projects and received positive feedback from landowners and the community. The Pilot Scheme for Public-Private Partnership allows applicants to develop less-sensitive areas of a site but commit to long-term conservation of the rest of the site. Results have not yet been announced on applications for the latter. A review of the Pilot Scheme for Management Agreements will be conducted in 2007.

19.   The new Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Bill has been drafted to replace earlier legislation. The new Bill would ensure Hong Kong fully meets its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, remove inconsistencies in the current legislation and streamline the licensing system. The EPD also proposed extending the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to Hong Kong.

20.   An amendment was made to the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation to control glass-bottomed boats in marine parks through a permit system and streamline procedures for collecting marine life and resources for educational or scientific studies in marine parks or reserves.

NOISE

AIM
To prevent, minimise and resolve environmental noise problems through formulation of noise policy, intervention in the planning process, implementation of noise abatement measures and enforcement of the Noise Control Ordinance.

Traffic Noise

21.   More than one million people in Hong Kong are exposed to excessive traffic noise (more than 70 dB (A) ). If nothing is done to address the problem, an additional 100 000 will be affected by 2016. The EPD has been tackling this situation on several fronts and in 2006 we sought to expand our scope through A Draft Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Road Traffic Noise in Hong Kong. A wide range of stakeholders is being consulted on the proposals, including District Councils, the public transport operators, professionals, academia, developers, green groups and the general public.

Existing Roads

22.   Most traffic noise problems arise from existing roads. We earlier identified 72 road sections for low-noise surfacing and by the end of 2006, 30 road sections had been resurfaced, benefiting 42 000 people. Funding had been secured for another 35 road secitons deemed suitable to be retrofitted with noise barriers or enclosures. So far two have been completed, benefiting 7 000 people.

Photo - Noise barriers were retrofitted on the Fanling (left) and Sheung Shui (right) sections of Fanling Highway in 2006.

23.   In 2006, the Draft Comprehensive Plan enhanced these initiatives and introduced other means of controlling traffic noise, as described below:

• New designs for low-noise road surfaces will be explored.
• More than 20 additional road sections will be earmarked for extended trials of various low-noise road surfacing materials.
• Optimum barrier design will be explored.
• The feasibility of controlling noise from in-use vehicles will be studied.
• The Professional Practice Note on Road Traffic Noise will be reviewed.
• Developers will be encouraged to disclose noise information in flat sales brochures.
• Improvement of road joints in flyovers will be studied.
• A night-time traffic noise standard will be explored.
• Public engagement and partnership will continue to be promoted.

New roads

24.   The EPD uses planning and environmental impact assessment to reduce noise on new roads. Since 1990, some 500 000 people have been benefited through planning measures, while about 250 000 have benefited from road barriers on new roads, costing $1.7 billion. In addition, low-noise surfaces are a standard feature of new high-speed roads. Some 7 900 flats have also been insulated against traffic noise since 1995.

Figure 3 - Screening Structures to Reduce Traffic Noise.
Figure 4 - Cumulative Number of Dwellings Insulated up to 2006.

Planning Input

25.   Since 1986 the EPD has protected over 150 000 flats through intervention in the planning process. In 2006, we provided advice in 1 137 cases.

Figure 5 - Breakdown of 1 137 Noise Planning Advice/Cases in 2006

WASTE

AIM
To develop and implement a sustainable waste management strategy for Hong Kong and to safeguard the health and welfare of the community from any adverse environmental effects associated with the improper handling and disposal of waste. This is achieved through implementation of policy tools and instruments enshrining the principle of polluter pays, provision of state-of-the-art waste management facilities, partnership with the trade, and sustained public education.

Solid Waste Arisings

26.   To provide waste treatment and disposal, we will adopt a multi-technology approach to treat and reduce the bulk of waste, and invest over $8 billion to extend existing landfills.

27.   Landfills received 15 per cent less waste in 2006 than 2005, coinciding with the introduction of construction waste disposal charges and on-going efforts to improve waste recovery and recycling. Nonetheless, the three strategic landfills will still run out of space in five to nine years. A breakdown of municipal, construction and special waste arisings can be seen in Figure 6 and details of the three strategic landfills are in Appendix II.

Figure 6 - Types of Solid Waste Disposed of at Landfills.

28.   The EPD is seeking to reduce the total of domestic, commercial and industrial waste that is generated by one per cent per year, as described in "A Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014)" issued in December 2005. This was not achieved in 2006 when waste arisings increased by 3.6 per cent. However, the recovery of municipal solid waste rose two per cent to 45 per cent.

Initiatives to Reduce Waste

29.   Under the Policy Framework, the EPD is pushing ahead on several fronts to reduce municipal waste. One goal is to minimise, recover and recycle waste at source. The Programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste was extended to 497 housing estates and buildings by the end of 2006, of which 210 implemented floor-based waste separation and 287 set up waste separation facilities on the ground-floor. The quantity of recyclables recovered by the participating estates increased by over 50 per cent while the amount of waste they sent to landfills was reduced by almost four per cent. The goal is to have 80 per cent of the population, in more than 1 300 housing estates, participating in the programme by 2010, although this may be challenging given that the most willing estates have already signed up.

30.   Economic Incentives are also needed to reduce waste and conserve resources, as described in greater detail in Chapter 5. In keeping with the principle of polluter pays, we propose to introduce producer responsibility schemes (PRSs), under which manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and other waste producers are held responsible for avoiding, recovering and recycling their waste. A voluntary PRS on rechargeable batteries was set up in April 2005 and by the end of 2006, ten per cent of batteries were being recovered. Charges for solid waste disposal have also been introduced. Construction waste disposal charges were implemented from 20 January 2006, resulting in 40 per cent less construction waste at landfills and 25 per cent less construction waste overall. In addition, a three-month trial for municipal solid waste charging was launched in November.

Developing Waste Facilities

31.   Waste reduction technologies will be used to reduce the bulk of waste loads. A site search was begun in late 2006 for developing state-of-the-art, multi-technology integrated waste management facilities. The three main components of the facilities will be: biological treatment (500 tonnes per day (tpd) ), mechanical sorting and recycling (500 tpd) and thermal treatment (2 600 tpd). Feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments were also underway on extending two strategic landfills (Northeast New Territories and Southeast New Territories), to be completed in 2007. Investigations will start in 2007 on the third landfill in West New Territories. Construction began in 2006 on the $257 million EcoPark in Tuen Mun to provide land and supporting facilities for recycling and environmental industries. Tenders for the tenancies of three lots of land in EcoPark's Phase I were invited in December.

Chemical Waste

32.   The Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) treats chemical waste and, from 2009, will also handle clinical waste (see Figure 7 for details of chemical waste arisings). An environmental and engineering study in 2006 found the CWTC did not cause any adverse environmental impacts. To enhance the environmental performance of the CWTC, emission controls will be upgraded as part of the CWTC's contract renewal in April 2008 to further reduce emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides to meet the latest European Union standards.

Figure 7 - Chemical Waste Collected at CWTC in 2006
Figure 8 - Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.

WATER

AIM
To ensure that the quality of our marine and fresh water is such that the various conservation goals for them can be met, and that plans are formulated and implemented to ensure Hong Kong's sewerage systems can operate safely and effectively both now and with further urban development in future.

Water Quality

33.   The EPD celebrated 20 years of water quality monitoring in 2006. Beaches, marine waters, and rivers and streams are checked regularly to see if they comply with Water Quality Objectives (WQOs). The results from monitoring have provided a scientific basis for policies and programmes to improve water quality. In 2006 we achieved more than 80 per cent compliance with WQOs across Hong Kong as a whole. Further improvements will require extra investment in the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme and village sewerage improvement works. Details of our monitoring results can be seen in Figure 9 (Marine Water Quality in Hong Kong), Figure 10 (River Water Quality in Hong Kong) and at Beach Water Quality in Hong Kong.

Figure 9 - Overall Compliance with Marine Water Quality Objectives in Hong Kong 1986-2006.
Figure 10 - Overall compliance with River Water Quality Objectives in Hong Kong 1986-2006.

Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS)

34.   Stage 1 of HATS was commissioned in late 2001 and treats 75 per cent of the sewage around Victoria Harbour. As a result of Stage 1, compliance with Water Quality Objectives in Victoria Harbour has risen from 50 per cent in 2001 to 90 per cent in 2006. However, water quality problems remain, particularly in the western waters where the treated effluent is discharged. Further improvements, and full compliance with the WQOs, will not be possible without Stage 2 of HATS. The public was consulted on options in 2004 and the Chief Executive-in-Council decided in 2005 that we should split Stage 2 into two phases and seek full recovery of the operating costs of sewage services. Stage 2A, costing about $8 billion to build and $420 million a year to operate, would collect the remaining untreated sewage and provide disinfection. Stage 2B, costing $10.8 billion to build and $700 million a year to operate, would provide a higher level of treatment.

35.   Construction work on Stage 2A cannot commence until the financing is agreed. The Government proposed in 2006 to increase sewage charges in keeping with the polluter pays principle and provide sustainable financial support for Stage 2A and other sewerage facilities (see details in Chapter 5). If the Legislative Council supports higher sewage charges in 2007, Stage 2A could be completed by 2014.

36.   Another issue to resolve is the use of chlorine-based disinfection. The Government has proposed de-chlorinating the treated effluent to remove residual chlorine. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is due for completion in 2007 and preliminary results indicate the impacts of chlorination plus de-chlorination would be within acceptable limits. If the EIA is approved under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and the proposed sewage charges as well as the funds for the disinfection facilities are approved by LegCo in 2007, the disinfection facilities could be in place by 2009, thus allowing beaches in Tsuen Wan to re-open.

37.   The timing of Stage 2B will be determined at a later stage. The Government has committed to review the timing in 2010/2011, taking into account trends in water quality, sewage flow and population growth. Monitoring of these planning parameters was ongoing in 2006.

Village Sewerage

38.   Contamination of rivers and streams by unsewered village houses has been a long-standing problem. In 2006 the Government earmarked $2.1 billion to connect sewers to the properties of 245 000 people in 402 villages. This was in addition to $1.3 billion provided in 2005. The investment will bolster a programme that has already connected or is connecting the sewage from 94 000 people to sewers.

Reclaimed Water

39.   A demonstration scheme on reclaimed water was initiated in North District in autumn 2006. Some of the effluent from Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works is undergoing membrane filtration and chlorination processes to produce high quality disinfected reclaimed water. Selected domestic homes, schools and homes for the elderly are being supplied with the reclaimed water for non-potable uses such as toilet flushing, landscape irrigation and water features. The scheme will end in 2008 and hopefully establish a basis for wider use of reclaimed water in North District.

Photo - The advanced treatment plant at Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works produces reclaimed water from effluent.
Photo - A primary school in North District uses reclaimed water for irrigation.

OTHER AREAS OF WORKS

Environmental Compliance

40.   The EPD encourages compliance with environmental law through partnerships and enforcement. In April 2005 the Central Prosecution Unit was separated from the Environmental Compliance Division and now reports directly to a Deputy Director, providing a clearer division between prosecution and enforcement activities.

Partnerships

41.   The EPD has formal partnerships with four key polluters: the construction industry, restaurants, vehicle repair workshops and property management companies. Seminars, technology transfers and recognition for good practices are among the initiatives undertaken by partnership programmes. In 2006, for example, we organised 11 seminars for the construction industry with 1 307 participants, worked with a restaurant association in controlling cooking fumes with financial support from the SME Development Fund, promoted environmentally friendly paint-spraying technology to vehicle repair workshops and launched a web site for the green property management partnership programme. Convictions for these four industries have dropped from 1 095 in 2000 to 125 in 2006.

Photo - Representatives of the vehicle repair workshops trade visit the Compliance Assistance Centre.

42.   Other operators are being encouraged to similarly improve their environmental performance with the help of the new Compliance Assistance Centre, a one-stop shop set up in 2006 to provide information and facilitate licence applications relating to all areas of EPD's work. Operators of any type of business are welcome to drop in, pick up licence or permit applications and obtain information and advice on environmental compliance, pollution prevention and environmental management. About 450 cases are being handled each month at the Centre, which is located near the Wan Chai MTR at 28/F, Southorn Centre.

Enforcement

43.   Prosecutions and complaints increased in 2006. There were 341 prosecutions with 315 convictions (see Table 2), and 27 553 complaints (see Figure 11 & Table 3) including 3 017 noise complaints made to the Police. There was a sharp increase in complaints related to waste (3 375 in 2006 up from 1 153 in 2005). In addition, our Customer Service Centre handled 42 413 general enquiry calls during the year. We also conducted about 56 000 inspections (see Table 4) and issued some 7 000 licences and permits (see Table 5).

Figure 11 - Annual Record of Pollution Complaints.

Table 2 - No. of Convictions in 2006 - Breakdown by Ordinance

Ordinance	No. of Conviction
Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO)	142
Dumping at Sea Ordinance (DASO)	0
Noise Control Ordinance (NCO)	81
Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO)	20
Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (OLPO)	1
Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO)	71
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)	0
Total	315

Table 3 - Complaints Breakdown by Media	Table 4 - No. of Inspections in 2006
Nature 2006 Air - Vehicle Emissions 6 976 Air - Other 6 288 Noise* 5 738 Waste 3 375 Water 1 939 Miscellaneous 220 Total 24 536 * Excluding complaints handled by Police (The Police investigated 3 017 cases in 2006).	Ordinance No. of Inspections APCO 18 833 OLPO 1 DASO 518 NCO 4 653 WDO 12 536 - Livestock Waste 2 895 - Chemical Waste 3 628 - Illegal Dumping 5 505 - Import & Export 508 WPCO 18 742 EIAO 457 Cumulative Total 55 740

Table 5 - Licences and Permits Issued in 2006

Ordinance	Activities	No. Issued
APCO	Chimney Approval	268
	Specified Process Licence	6
	Open Burning Permit	1
	Sub Total: 275
NCO	Construction Noise Permit (Percussive Piling)	173
	Construction Noise Permit (General Construction Work -Total)	2 418
	Sub Total: 2 591
WDO	Registration of Chemical Waste Producer	777
	Chemical Waste Disposal Licence	9
	Chemical Waste Collection Licence	4
	Waste Import and Export Permit	4
	Sub Total: 794
WPCO	New Licence	1 362
	Licence Renewal	1 774
	Sub Total: 3 136
DASO	Marine Dumping Permit	96
	Sub Total: 96
Other	Clinical Waste Disposal Permit	88
	Sub Total: 88
Total		6 980

Cross-boundary and International Co-operation

Cross-boundary Co-operation

44.   The Hong Kong and Guangdong governments have agreed to reduce air pollution levels to well below those of 1997, by 2010. Both sides are working separately to control emissions in their jurisdictions, as well as undertaking joint initiatives (see section on Air, above). At the seventh meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, they also endorsed an implementation framework of an emissions trading pilot scheme, which will be presented to prospective participating power plants in 2007.

45.   The EPD engaged the Hong Kong Productivity Council in November 2006 to conduct a pilot project to raise awareness of cleaner production among Hong Kong-invested factories in the Pearl River Delta region. Separately, the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments are supporting an initiative by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries to promote better environmental performance in these factories.

Photo - A Hong Kong-owned factory under the Cleaner Production Technical Support Pilot Project, receives an on-site assessment.

46.   On regional water quality management, Hong Kong is continuing to collaborate with other administrations in the Pearl River Delta to monitor and control pollution in Deep Bay and the Pearl River.

International Co-operation

47.   The Government submitted an implementation plan for controlling persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Hong Kong to the Central People's Government in September 2006. This forms part of China's National Implementation Plan for submission to the Conference of the Parties of the Stockholm Convention on POPs before its third meeting in May 2007. The Government also introduced the Hazardous Chemicals Control Bill to the Legislative Council in May 2006 to regulate non-pesticide hazardous chemicals, including those that are subject to the Stockholm Convention and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

Climate Change

48.   Under the Kyoto Protocol, Hong Kong, as part of China, is not required to limit greenhouse gas emissions, but must submit information on its greenhouse gas emissions and activities relating to climate change. This is now being compiled and shows that Hong Kong has nonetheless reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent since 1990, to 6.5 tonnes per capita in 2005. The Government has also undertaken scientific research to assess the impact of climate change on Hong Kong.

Chapter 6 - Sustainability at EPD - Environmental Impacts
Chapter 6 - Part B Environmental Impacts of Internal Operations