Press Releases

Press Release

Press Kit for the Year Ender with Media on 28 April 2006

A. Initiatives Announced in April 2005

1. Launching a Voluntary Programme to Recover Rechargeable Batteries

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) launched a voluntary programme with the industry on 9 April 2005 to recover rechargeable batteries. Funded and organized by 34 producers and importers, the programme was also supported by two green groups (Friends of the Earth and Green Power). As at February 2006, there were a total of 446 collection points located at retail shops, all MTRC stations, some KCR stations and some petrol filling stations. About 760 housing estates, 146 commercial and industrial buildings as well as 162 schools also have collection points to facilitate the public's participation in the programme. Since the launch of the voluntary programme, some 13 tonnes of rechargeable batteries (about 320 000 articles) have been collected, and the first batch of rechargeable batteries collected was shipped to Korea in mid April for recycling. Our target is to recover about 10% (about 25 tonnes per year) of the used rechargeable batteries generated in Hong Kong within two years.

2. Developing the EcoPark in Tuen Mun Area 38

The 20-hectare EcoPark, located in Tuen Mun Area 38, will be developed in two phases. Phase I occupies 8 hectares while Phase II occupies 12 hectares. Upon the completion of the EcoPark in 2009, about 14 hectares of usable land will be provided to the industry. We have completed the EIA study and EIA process. We obtained funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council (LegCo) on 24 March 2006 for the construction cost (about $300 million) of the EcoPark. The tender exercise for the construction works contract was closed on 21 April 2006, and a total of 13 tender applications were received. The vetting of the applications is now underway. It is expected that construction works will start in mid 2006, and Phase I will be ready for tenants' occupation at the end of 2006. An Expression of Interest (EoI) exercise was launched between 18 March and 20 April 2006 for those interested in developing recycling and environmental businesses in the EcoPark, so that the Government could collect views of the industry on land sizes, lease arrangements, materials to be treated, work processes, uses of the piers, etc. By the end of the deadline, we received over 50 EoIs. The key processes covered in the EoIs include plastic recovery, waste tyre recycling and waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling. Views from the industry will be taken into account in the detailed planning of the EcoPark.

3. Announcing Study Results on Solid Waste Treatment Technology

We briefed the LegCo Panel on Environmental Affairs (EA Panel) on the study results on solid waste treatment technology in May 2005. As mentioned in the Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014) published last December, the proposed integrated waste management facilities should adopt a multi-technology approach, so that different types of municipal solid wastes can be treated by the most suitable technology. The Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) visited the Netherlands and Germany in March 2006 to look at various advanced waste treatment technologies adopted there.

4. Announcing Results of the Public Consultation Exercise on the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2 and Proposals to Implement the Scheme

In July 2005, we reported the results of the public consultation exercise on HATS Stage 2 to the LegCo EA Panel, and announced that HATS Stage 2 would be implemented in two stages, provided that the public accepts that the operating costs are to be fully recovered through sewage charges. We are reviewing the sewage charging scheme in accordance with the polluter pays principle and developing a proposal which would ensure an equitable distribution of the burden of the cost of sewage services amongst the public and all affected trades. In December 2005, the Finance Committee of the LegCo approved the funding of $166.5 million for site investigation, the EIA study, preliminary planning and design of the tunnel conveyance system of HATS Stage 2A. Such urgent preparatory work is now fully underway with good progress. It is estimated that Stage 2A works will be completed in 2013-14.

5. Introducing the Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill into the LegCo

The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Bill was introduced into the LegCo in May 2005 and was approved by the LegCo on 29 March 2006. The Waste Disposal (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 was gazetted on 7 April 2006. The Amendment Ordinance introduces legislative control on the management of clinical waste and disposal of imported waste. The Basel Ban is also stipulated in the Waste Disposal Ordinance. The main purposes of the Clinical Waste Control Scheme are to establish a statutory licensing framework to regulate clinical waste collectors and disposal facility operators; to require clinical waste producers to properly manage their clinical waste and consign their waste to licensed waste collectors for delivery to a licensed disposal facility for disposal; and to put in place a trip ticket system to track the movement of clinical waste from its source to the disposal facility. The Amendment Ordinance strengthens control over the disposal of imported waste. To forestall the use of local landfills for the disposal of imported waste, it will be an offence for any person to dispose of non-hazardous imported waste without prior authorization from the Director of Environmental Protection. Such authorization will only be given in very exceptional circumstances, and the applicant will be required to pay the full disposal cost and the administrative cost of applying for such authorization. The objective of the Basel Ban is to reduce the environmental impact caused by the movement of hazardous waste from developed countries to developing countries. The stipulation of the Basel Ban in the Ordinance will send a strong signal to the international community about Hong Kong's commitment to enforcing the Basel Ban.

6. Applications Submitted under the New Nature Conservation Policy

Two pilot schemes have been introduced under the new nature conservation policy, namely the Management Agreement and Public-Private Partnership Schemes. Under the pilot scheme for Management Agreement, funding of around $4.6m was approved at the end of 2005 by the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee for three non-governmental organizations to implement Management Agreement pilot projects in Fung Yuen and Long Valley. These projects will enhance the conservation of ecologically sensitive habitats and promote public participation in ecology conservation. The projects were launched at the end of 2005 and will last for two years under the supervision of the EPD and Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD). Six applications have been received under the Public-Private Partnership Pilot Scheme involving land located at Yung Shue O, Wu Kau Tang, Tin Fook Wai (an area adjacent to the Ramsar Site), Tai Ho, Sha Lo Tung, Mui Tze Lam and Mau Ping. An inter-departmental task force comprising representatives from ecological, environmental, planning and works authorities was set up to examine the applications received. In light of the complexity and uncertainties involved in these applications, the vetting process is longer than that of the Management Agreement Pilot Scheme. Once the vetting process is completed, results of projects selected for the Public-Private Partnership Pilot Scheme will be announced as soon as possible.

7. Public Consultation on the mandatory Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme

Participation of the existing Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme is voluntary and some models of electrical appliances the energy efficiency of which is less than satisfactory did not apply for the label. In making the scheme mandatory, we hope that through the choice of consumers, better design products with high energy efficiency will be encouraged. We propose to include refrigerator, air-conditioner and compact fluorescent lamp in the first phase of the mandatory scheme. It is estimated that an annual reduction of 150 GWh of electricity and 105 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide can be achieved when the scheme is put into practice. From July to October 2005, we conducted a public consultation exercise on the proposed mandatory scheme to seek comments from the public and the trades. Most of the responses received generally indicated support for the scheme and many respondents believe that it will help promote the use of products with high energy efficiency. Two task forces have been set up to discuss with relevant trades and organizations details of the scheme. Legislation will be drafted with due regard to the views expressed in the task forces.

8. Consulting stakeholders on the Introduction of a Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) for Waste Tyres

Between August and December 2005, preliminary views of stakeholders were obtained on a PRS for waste tyres. Pending further consideration, we will consult the stakeholders on possible options in 2006. A Product Eco-responsibility Bill which relates to PRSs will be introduced into the LegCo in 2006 and subsidiary legislation on the PRS for waste tyres submitted to the LegCo in 2007.

9. Commissioning the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network and Releasing Regional Air Quality Index (RAQI)

Jointly established by the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau and us, the PRD regional air quality monitoring network comprising 16 monitoring stations was commissioned on 30 November 2005, with the daily release of the RAQI, thereby allowing the public to understand the regional air quality situation. Such information is available on the public website of the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau and the EPD's website. The regional air quality monitoring network has been in normal operation without any interruption since its commissioning. In the past four months or so, the public in both places can understand the regional air quality every day. The environmental authorities of both sides will analyse in detail the data collected by the monitoring network every six months and will publish a regional air quality report. When sufficient data is available, scientific analysis will be conducted on the trends of air quality in the PRD region and the effectiveness of the emission reduction measures of the two sides for reference by the two governments.

10. Introducing the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme

The Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme was implemented on 1 December 2005. The levying of charges for the disposal of construction waste started on 20 January 2006. Since then, anyone disposing of construction waste at waste disposal facilities has been required to open a billing account first. The statutory construction waste disposal charges are as follows -

In general, the Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme has been operating smoothly implemented smoothly since 20 January 2006. We have started to collect data on the amounts of construction waste received at various waste disposal facilities and other data to facilitate a comparison with the situation before the implementation of the scheme. The Government will review the situation in six months' time after the start of charging, and will submit implementation of a review report to the LegCo later.

11. Publishing the Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (2005-2014)

The Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014) was published in December 2005. It sets out the strategies and initiatives for the management of MSW in Hong Kong for the coming decade. Based on the polluter pays principle, the policy aims to encourage the community to recycle more and discard less through simple, yet effective, economic tools with a view to meeting the following targets:

(a) Target 1 - Waste Avoidance and Minimization: Reduce the amount of MSW generated in Hong Kong by 1% per annum up to the year 2014, based on the 2003 levels.

(b) Target 2 - Reuse, Recovery and Recycling: Increase the recovery rate of MSW to 45% by 2009 and 50% by 2014.

(c) Target 3 - Bulk Reduction and Disposal: Reduce the total amount of MSW disposed of at landfills to less than 25% by 2014.

The implementation of the proposed initiatives in the Policy Framework requires the community's participation in accordance with the polluter pays principle. The driving force behind the Policy Framework mainly comes from the policy tools of waste charging, PRSs and landfill disposal bans, and supported by the Government through public education, partnership and legislation.

12. Commencing the Pilot Scheme on Delivery of Local Reclamation Materials to the Mainland

In recent years, nearly all reclamation works in Hong Kong have been suspended, and the amount of reclamation materials (i.e. inert construction and demolition materials) far exceeds demand. After discussion with the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), we intend to deliver such materials to the Mainland for reclamation purposes. To take the scheme forward, we signed the "Implementation Scheme on Hong Kong disposal of inert construction and demolition materials in the Mainland" with the South Sea Branch of the SOA in June 2005. In January 2006, the South China Sea Branch of the SOA confirmed that the Overseas Chinese Investment and Development Testing Area at Guanghai Bay, Taishan had been designated as the testing area for handling Hong Kong's inert construction and demolition materials in Mainland waters. On 7 April 2006, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) invited tenders so that the delivery could start in the latter half of the year. Upon implementation of the Pilot Scheme, all reclamation materials delivered to the fill banks will be directly loaded onto barges for sea transportation to the reclamation area in the Mainland. We will also take this opportunity to remove the stockpiled materials from the two temporary fill banks.

13. Commissioning of the First Commercial-scale Wind Turbine

The wind power station on Lamma Island constructed by the Hongkong Electric Co. Ltd. (HEC) was formally commissioned in February 2006. This commercial-scale wind turbine is the first of its kind in Hong Kong. With a generating capacity of 800kW, the wind power station is expected to generate 1 GWh of electricity each year, enough to serve 250 regular families and help reduce 850 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission each year. The Lamma project is also a public demonstration and education project on renewable energy. At the site, an exhibition center is established to explain the characteristics, benefits and limitations of wind and other sources of renewable energy. The China Light and Power Co. Ltd. (CLP) has also selected two sites at Hei Ling Chau and Kao Sai Chau for environmental impact assessment study on constructing a commercial-scale wind power station and further wind data will be collected to determine which site will be selected for the project. CLP has already submitted the project profile of the wind power station at the end of March and we expect the project will be completed in 2007-08.

B. Progress of Emission Reduction Measures to Combat Air Pollution

To achieve in full the 2010 emission reduction targets of the Guangdong and HKSAR governments, we are taking the following emission reduction measures -

• tightening the motor petrol standard to Euro IV with effect from 1 January 2005;
• requiring the installation of vapour recovery systems for vehicle refuelling at petrol filling stations from 31 March 2005;
• introducing Euro IV emissions standards for newly registered vehicles in 2006;
• requiring the power companies to take measures to reduce emissions and increase the use of natural gas in electricity generation;
• imposing emission caps on the Castle Peak Power Station on 1 August 2005 and the Black Point Power Station on 1 January 2006 upon the renewal of their Specified Process Licences; and
• introducing a scheme to control volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from selected products.

Hong Kong has achieved good progress in reducing the total emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x), respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and VOC. For sulphur dioxide (SO₂), however, much of the effort has been vitiated by the increase in emissions from the power plants. Details are presented in the table below -

Table: Progress of achieving the 2010 emission reduction targets

Electricity generation remains the biggest source of air pollution in Hong Kong. It accounts for 92% of the SO₂ and half of the NO_x and RSP emissions. Therefore, to achieve the 2010 emission reduction targets and sustained improvement in our air quality, the power companies must substantially reduce their emissions.

Environmental Protection Department
April 2006