1980s
1989
General
- Published the White Paper on "Pollution: A Time to Act" laying down a comprehensive 10-year plan to fight pollution.
Air
- Enacted the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (1989) to comply with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
- Banned the use of solid and liquid fuels in industrial and commercial plants in Sha Tin.
- Declared eight additional Air Control Zones to cover the whole Territory.
Noise
- Implemented major provisions under the Noise Control Ordinance on the control of noise from construction work during nighttime and holidays, and from industrial and commercial activities.
- Saw endorsement by the Executive Council of the general principle of using acoustic insulation for institutional buildings affected by increased noise from new roads.
- Enacted the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Limitation on Operation of Engines and Auxiliary Power Units) Regulation and the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) Notice to limit the noise from aircraft operations from both air and ground activities.
Waste
- Published the statutory Waste Disposal Plan under the Waste Disposal Ordinance to set out a 10-year plan for developing new facilities and closing old ones.
Water
- Formulated the Sewage Disposal Strategy for Hong Kong.
- Declared August 1 the First Appointed Day for the Port Shelter and Junk Bay Water Control Zones.
1988
General
- Established the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch as the policy branch for the environmental programme area.
Noise
- Enacted the Noise Control Ordinance to provide statutory powers for the control of noise from domestic and public places, construction sites, industrial and commercial premises and noisy products.
Waste
- Implemented the Livestock Waste Control Scheme.
Water
- Declared August 1 the First Appointed Day for the Southern Water Control Zone.
1987
Air
- Enacted the Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations to bring potential major emitters known as Specified Processes under control.
- Established Statutory Air Quality Objectives for declared Air Control Zones.
Noise
- Enacted the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Certification) Regulations and the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Classes) Notice to prohibit those Hong Kong registered aircraft which do not possess a noise certificate, from operating in and out of Hong Kong.
Water
- Declared the first water control zone (WCZ) at Tolo Harbour.
- Commenced the Sewerage Master Plan (SMP) programme to provide a blue print for the sewerage infrastructure required to collect sewage on a catchment-basis.
1986
General
- Established the Environmental Protection Department on April 1, bringing the majority of pollution prevention and control activities under one umbrella.
Air
- Declared the Harbour and Tsuen Wan - Kwai Chung Air Control Zones.
Noise
- Enacted the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) Ordinance to provide the statutory powers required for the control of noise from aircraft.
- Saw endorsement by the Executive Council of the general principle of providing equitable redress to persons affected by new roads, in the form of direct technical remedies such as barriers and enclosures.
Water
- Enacted Water Pollution Control Regulations under the Water Pollution Control Ordinance (1980).
Environmental Assessment & Planning
- Issued a government circular on the Environmental Review of major public sector development projects.
1985
General
- Launched Hong Kong's first international conference on "Pollution in the Metropolitan Environment: POLMET '85".
Environmental Assessment & Planning
- Included an "Environment" Chapter in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines.
1984
General
- Revived the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee and disbanded the Special Committees on Land and Water, Air and Noise.
1983
General
- Hosted first visit of a delegation from the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau, led by Director Jin Yang, to Hong Kong in January.
Air
- Enacted the Air Pollution Control Ordinance which introduced air control zones and air quality objectives in respect of these zones and designated the Commissioner for Labour as the Control Authority.
1982
General
- Made the Health and Social Welfare Branch responsible for the environmental programme area, instead of the Home Affairs Branch.
Water
- Declared Tolo Harbour the first Water Control Zone.
1981
General
- Separated the Environmental Protection Unit from the Government Secretariat to form the Environmental Protection Agency.
- Dissolved the Environment Branch, with the Home Affairs Branch becoming the policy branch for the environmental programme area.
- Published the first issue of "Environment Hong Kong" describing all government activities on pollution prevention and control.
1980
Waste
- Enacted the Waste Disposal Ordinance to provide statutory powers over waste collection and disposal.
Water
- Enacted the Water Pollution Control Ordinance to provide statutory powers over the control of effluents to the aquatic environment.