News Update

Dr Liao covered all areas of her environmental portfolio in her speech and power point presentation: air quality, nature conservation and greening, solid waste management, and water quality.

財政司司長唐英年在二月二十八日宣布2007-08財政年度的政府財預案。就推動環保，他說：

「保護環境不但可提升市民的生活質素，而且有助改善營商環境。行政長官在去年的施政報告建議提供優惠，鼓勵車主更換舊式柴油商業車輛，我會為此投放32億元。同時，行政長官亦提出減免環保車輛的汽車首次登記稅。有關計劃將於四月一日推行。市民可從今天起在環境保護署和運輸署網頁瀏覽有關符合這項計劃的車輛型號資料。」

「為了減少廢物及落實「污染者自付」的原則，環境保護署正積極研究就不同產品引入「生產者責任計劃」。該署已完成塑膠購物袋收費計劃的研究，並將於短期內提出具體方案。預計有關的條例草案可於本年內提交立法會。」

The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, unveiled details of the 2007-08 Budget on February 28. On promoting environmental protection, he said,

"Not only can environmental protection enhance our citizens' quality of life, but it also helps improve our business environment. In last year's Policy Address, the Chief Executive proposed to provide an incentive for replacement of old diesel commercial vehicles with new models. I have budgeted $3.2 billion for this purpose. The Chief Executive also proposed to lower the first registration tax environment-friendly vehicles. This programme will be implemented on April 1. As from today, information on the vehicle models covered by the programme can be found on the websites of the Environmental Protection Department and Transport Department.

To reduce waste and implement the "Polluter Pays" principle, the Environmental Protection Department is considering the introduction of producer-responsibility schemes for various products. The Department has completed its study on the charging scheme for plastic shopping bags, and is shortly to put forward specific proposals. It is expected that the relevant Bill will be introduced into this Council within the year."

為鼓勵市民購買廢氣排放量少而燃料效率高的環保汽油私家車，由二零零七年四月一日起，政府會為新登記環保汽油私家車提供寬減汽車首次登記稅30%，寬減上限為每輛港幣五萬元。
To encourage the use of environment-friendly petrol private cars with low emissions and high fuel efficiency, starting from 1 April 2007, a 30% reduction in the First Registration Tax (FRT), subject to a cap of HK$50,000 per car, will be offered to buyers of newly registered environment-friendly petrol private cars.

車輛是香港空氣污染第二大源頭。為改善本港空氣質素，政府將由2007年4月1日起，提供總共三十二億元資助，鼓勵車主盡早把歐盟前期及歐盟I期柴油商業車輛更換為新商業車輛。欲知詳情，請瀏覽相關文件。
Road vehicles are the second largest source of air pollution in Hong Kong. To improve the air quality, from 1 April 2007 the Government will provide HK$3.2 billion to encourage early replacement of pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles with new commercial vehicles. The relevant paper contains details of the programme.

政府將禁止生產及輸入揮發性有機化合物含量高於訂明限制的產品，規例由今年四月一日起分階段實施。
The Government will ban imports and local manufacture of products whose volatile organic compounds contents exceed the prescribed limits. The legislation will come into force in phases starting from April 1 this year.

環境運輸及工務局局長廖秀冬探訪三個模範屋苑，了解「家居廢物源頭分類計劃」和「都市固體廢物收費試驗計劃」的推行情況。
The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, visited three model estates to see the implementation of the programme on source separation of domestic waste and the trial scheme of municipal solid waste charging.

在2007年1月27日和28日舉辦的「舊電腦及電器回收日」已圓滿結束。活動期間我們收集了超過190噸舊電腦及電器(共22,700件)，較上年增加近九成。
The "2007 WEEE Recycling Days" was held successfully on 27 and 28 January. During the event, 190 tonnes (22,700 pieces) of used electrical appliances and computers were collected, representing an increase of about 90% over that of last year.

環保署於2007年2月推廣「歲晚回收大行動」，鼓勵市民在歲晚期間使用屋苑內的回收設施參與家居廢物回收，加強屋苑內的回收活動。
The EPD has launched the Lunar Year End Recycling Campaign in Feb 2007. Residents were encouraged to make use of the waste separation facilities in their estates to step up recovery of reusable and recyclable materials.

這兩份報告於2007年2月發表，總結了香港80 年代、90 年代至今河溪 和海域水質狀況，反映過去二十年來環保署改善河海水質、建立清潔健康環境方面所做的工作。進一步改善香港水質有賴市民的全力支持。
The two Reports summarise the state of Hong Kong's Rivers and Marine Waters in the 1980s, the 1990s upto today. They highlight what has been done in the last two decades in improving water quality and making Hong Kong's rivers and seas cleaner and healthier environments. The community's support is necessary for further improvement of river and marine water quality in Hong Kong.

政府一貫的政策是在實際可行情況下，對新登記車輛實施最嚴格的車輛廢氣排放標準，並參考歐洲、美國和日本生產較環保車輛的主要地方的標準，以制定本地新登記車輛的廢氣排放標準。

緊急維修工程可在無須事先獲得環保署發出「建築噪音許可證」的情況下進行。在緊急情況下，有關人士須就當時現場情況，作出適當的專業判斷，以決定是否須盡速採取行動，包括進行所需工程。