Milestones in Hong Kong Environmental Protection - 1990s

1990s


1999
General

  • Placed emphasis in the Chief Executive's Policy Address on "Quality People, Quality Home" and sustainable development.
  • Saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Vienna and the Hong Kong SAR on Environmental Collaboration.


Community Awareness

  • Launched the "Hong Kong Eco-Business Awards" to recognise green corporations and the Wastewi$e Scheme to encourage businesses to reduce and avoid waste.
  • Published a new environmental education pack, "Environmental Explorer", distributed to all secondary schools, tertiary institutes and public libraries.


Air

  • Introduced more stringent emission standards for diesel vehicles and new evaporative emission standards for petrol vehicles under the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) Regulations.
  • Commissioned a joint study with the Guangdong Authorities on the extent of cross-boundary air pollution in the Pearl River Delta region.
  • Introduced an advanced smoke test method (with the aid of a chassis dynamometer) for diesel vehicles below 5.5 tonnes.


Noise

  • Completed the Quiet Road Surface Programme for high speed roads, benefiting over 15 000 dwellings.
  • Completed the phasing out of noisy piling hammers in built-up areas.
  • Completed the School Insulation Programme for schools affected by transport noise, benefiting a total of 514 000 students.


Waste

  • Launched the "Waste Recycling Campaign in Housing Estates (Phase III)" to promote recycling of waste paper, aluminium cans and plastic bottles.
  • Established the Waste Reduction Committee and targeted task forces to advise the government on waste reduction measures. Set up a dedicated web-site for public access.
  • Opened the golf driving range at Shuen Wan Landfill in Tai Po, which is the first project to make beneficial use of a restored landfill.
  • Saw successful implementation of the first project to utilise landfill gas by the Hong Kong and China Gas Company.


Water

  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South China Sea Branch of the State Oceanic Administration of the Mainland, marking the HKSAR's participation in the Second National Marine Pollution Baseline Survey.
  • Provided a dedicated hotline and dedicated web pages on beach water quality. The web pages also provide public access to summary data on marine and river water quality.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Saw the Planning, Environment and Lands Bureau issue a General Circular to Controlling Officers on the preparation and publishing of environmental reports.
  • Issued the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 1999 to include theme parks or amusement parks with a site area of more than 20 hectares as designated projects.


Enforcement

  • Launched an electronic complaint service for lodging pollution complaints by e-mail at all Local Control Offices.
  • Introduced Integrated Enforcement at Local Control Offices, with site inspections performed by multi-skilled enforcement teams in a single inspection.
  • Launched the construction partnership programme with the Hong Kong Construction Association to strengthen the working relationship and develop common interests for promoting environmental awareness in the industry.

 

1998
General

  • Adopted "Sustainable Development" as the theme for World Environment Day 1998.


Community Awareness

  • Launched the Green Living Campaign and training programmes for "Environmental Protection Volunteers" and Instructors of "Scout Environmental Protection Ambassadors".


Air

  • Introduced more stringent emission standards for diesel private cars to restrict them from registration and for light duty diesel vehicles, other than taxis, under the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) Regulation.
  • Enhanced the Air Pollution Index system and introduced a new Roadside Air Pollution Index.
  • Approved a consultancy to study the air quality in the Pearl River Delta Region.
  • Successfully completed the liquefied petroleum gas taxis pilot scheme launched in 1997.


Waste

  • Launched the "Waste Recycling Competition in Housing Estates" to promote waste reduction and recycling in public and private estates.
  • Banned the import of hazardous waste from developed countries to tie in with the latest requirement of the Basel Convention.


Water

  • Commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme Stages III/IV.
  • Saw agreement in the Hong Kong - Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group to work towards removing all effluent from the Deep Bay catchment as a long term goal.

 

Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Uploaded Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports exhibited under the EIA Ordinance onto a dedicated Internet home page to facilitate public access.
  • Saw announcement by the Chief Executive's Policy Address that all policy secretaries and directors of bureaux and departments have to provide environmental reports for their organisations starting in 2000.

 

Enforcement

  • Extended the comprehensive one-stop-shop service to all Local Control Offices, Southorn Centre, Revenue Tower and World Trade Square. The service provides public access to information, application forms and advice on licensing and pollution control activities.
  • Issued on-site records of inspections to polluters - a service improvement to enhance the transparency of enforcement work and improve communication with polluters.

 

1997
Community Awareness

  • Opened the second Environmental Resource Centre at Tak Wah Park in Tsuen Wan - funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and the Woo Wheelock Green Fund.


Air

  • Tightened vehicle emission standards for all newly registered diesel vehicles over four tonnes to Euro II Standards under the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) Regulations.
  • Reduced the sulphur content of auto diesel from 0.2% to 0.05% under the Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation.
  • Launched the liquefied petroleum gas taxis pilot scheme to reduce air pollution.
  • Introduced the Air Pollution Control (Construction Dust) Regulation to cut down dust emissions from construction activities.
  • Implemented a new control under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance which allows only registered asbestos professionals to carry out work involving asbestos.


Noise

  • Introduced controls on noise from vehicle burglar alarms.


Waste

  • Produced a promotional video on "Green Families" to encourage public participation in household waste separation and recovery.
  • Implemented the final phase of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme on July 1.

 

Water

  • Commissioned a new chemically-enhanced primary sewage treatment plant on Stonecutters Island as part of the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Enacted the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance to set out the framework for controlling environmental impacts of major development projects.
  • Saw approval of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process by the Legislative Council, setting out clear guidelines and criteria for carrying out EIAs.


Enforcement

  • Introduced one-stop-shop service counters at six EPD Local Control Offices to accept applications for environmental licences or permits relating to construction sites, irrespective of location.

 

1996
General

  • Established EPD's home page in the World Wide Web to provide the public with easy access to environmental information conducive to an informed and environmentally aware community.
  • Celebrated the 10th anniversary of the EPD.
  • Saw the appointment of Mr Robert J.S. Law as the new director of the EPD.
  • Published the EPD's Green Management Policy.


Community Awareness

  • Set up a mobile environmental resource centre to provide the public with easy access to information on environmental protection.


Air

  • Enacted the Air Pollution Control (Open Burning) Regulation to bring open burning activities under control.
  • Banned the import of five groups of ozone depleting substances - CFCs, other CFSs, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and HBFCs. HCFCs subjected to import licensing and quota controls.
  • Prohibited the sale and import of amosite and crocidolite asbestos under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.
  • Gazetted the Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) (Removal of Exemption) Order 1996 to remove exemptions granted to existing organic chemical works (i.e. oil terminals and organic chemical plants) and rendering works (i.e. lard boiling factories).


Noise

  • Required all vehicles, including motorcycles, applying for first registration in Hong Kong to meet stringent noise emission standards.
  • Implemented new controls on the use of particularly noisy construction equipment, and on carrying out certain noisy manual construction activities, in populated areas during nighttime and holidays.


Waste

  • Extended the controls on livestock waste to Tuen Mun, Kam Tin River and part of Yuen Long area.
  • Commissioned a door-to-door livestock waste collection contract to assist farm operators in disposing of livestock waste properly.
  • Introduced a permit control on the import and export of waste under the Waste Disposal Ordinance in accordance with the Basel Convention.


Water

  • Declared April 1 the First Appointed Day for the Victoria Harbour Water Control Zone (Phase III), thereby extending water pollution control to the whole territory.

 

1995
Community Awareness

  • Launched the Student Environmental Protection Ambassador Scheme.


Air

  • Introduced cleaner diesel fuel with sulphur content not exceeding 0.2 per cent under the Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation. Introduced stringent diesel vehicle emission standards under the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) Regulations.
  • Launched Hong Kong's first Air Pollution Index (API) to inform the community of the status of air pollution in Hong Kong.


Waste

  • Commissioned the North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill, Hong Kong's third strategic landfill.
  • Introduced a charging scheme for the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) to recover the running costs from its users.
  • Opened the Construction Waste Recycling Facility at SENT Landfill.
  • Introduced charges for MARPOL waste at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.
  • Implemented the newly localised Dumping at Sea Ordinance.
  • Introduced phased control of livestock farms in the North and Tuen Mun districts under legislation requiring them to meet environmental requirements.
  • Celebrated the first anniversary of the "Use Less Plastic Bags Campaign", which saw 35 million fewer plastic bags used during the year.


Water

  • Opened a new sewage treatment works at Stanley - the first in Asia built in a rock cavern.
  • Declared the Victoria Harbour Water Control Zone Phase II to control discharges from Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and a small part of Sha Tin.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Saw endorsement by the Advisory Council on the Environment of the first transboundary EIA study jointly undertaken by Hong Kong and Guangdong for the Shenzhen River Regulation Project.


Enforcement

  • Established a new Local Control Office (Urban East) to serve the communities of Sham Shui Po, Yau Tsim Mong and Kowloon City.
  • Extended the 24-hour pollution complaint hotline service to six local hotlines to handle complaints on a district basis.

 

1994
General

  • Expanded the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee's (EPCOM) advisory role on pollution control to sustainability of the environment; EPCOM renamed the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE).
  • Published the first Performance Pledge of EPD.
  • Opened the EPD's Visitors Centre in Revenue Tower, Wan Chai to complement the Wan Chai Environmental Resource Centre. These are the gateways to environmental information for the community.


Air

  • Banned the import of halons and introduced controls on 3,4-hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), 3,4 hydrobromo-fluorocarbons (HBFC), and methyl bromide under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance, fulfilling our global obligation in environmental protection.
  • Introduced a Technical Memoranda specifying Air Quality Objectives for Hong Kong.
  • Enacted the Air Pollution Control (Motor Vehicle Fuel) Regulation to require the use of better quality automotive diesel with a sulphur content not exceeding 0.2%.


Noise

  • Amended the Noise Control Ordinance to tighten controls on noisy construction equipment and noisy manual construction work during restricted hours in densely populated areas, and to double the maximum fines for noise offences.


Waste

  • Launched the first territory-wide action-oriented waste reduction programme - the year-long "Use Less Plastic Bags Campaign".
  • Amended the Waste Disposal Ordinance to provide comprehensive control of livestock waste, introduce stiffer penalties for illegal dumping of waste and define an offence for breaching waste collection and disposal licence conditions.
  • Commissioned the South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill, Hong Kong's second strategic landfill.
  • Commissioned the Sha Tin Refuse Transfer Station, Hong Kong's third refuse transfer station.
  • Decommissioned the Mui Wo incineration plant.


Water

  • Enacted the Water Pollution Control (Sewerage) Regulation to require proper connection of wastewater from premises to the public sewerage system and proper maintenance and operation of private wastewater treatment facilities.
  • Enacted the Water Pollution Control (General) (Amendment) Regulation to improve enforcement efficiency.
  • Declared the Victoria Harbour (Phase One) Water Control Zone with effect from November 1.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Began quarterly release of the list of environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to the media.
  • Established the EIA Subcommittee under the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) to consider EIAs.
  • Organised the Canada / Hong Kong Joint EIA Seminar in Hong Kong, under the Canada / Hong Kong Memorandum of Understanding.
  • Saw endorsement of the overall framework of the EIA Bill by the ACE and the joint Environmental Affairs / Lands and Works Panels of LegCo.

 

1993
General

  • Published the Second Review of the 1989 White Paper.


Community Awareness

  • Opened the first Environmental Resource Centre at the old Wan Chai Post Office.


Air

  • Amended the Air Pollution Control Ordinance to remove exemptions from licensing control previously allowed for certain specified processes, and to extend control to environmental asbestos.
  • Enacted the Ozone Layer Protection (Products Containing Scheduled Substances) (Import Banning) Regulation to prohibit the import of products containing CFCs or halons from countries which are non-parties to the Montreal Protocol.
  • Commissioned Hong Kong's first flue gas desulphurisation system at Hong Kong Electric's Co. Ltd.'s Lamma Power Station.
  • Commissioned Hong Kong's first low nitrogen oxide burners at China Light and Power's Tap Shek Kok Power Station.


Noise

  • Saw the launch of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation's $500m programme to reduce the effects of noise from its operations.


Waste

  • Commissioned the comprehensive Chemical Waste Treatment Centre - the first in South East Asia, with a capacity to treat 100 000 tonnes of chemical waste per annum, most of which had previously been dumped in the harbour.
  • Phased out the Kennedy Town Incinerator.
  • Commissioned the West New Territories (WENT) Landfill, the first of three strategic landfills in Hong Kong.


Water

  • Declared June 1 the First Appointed Day for the Eastern and Western Buffer Water Control Zones.
  • Amended the Water Pollution Control Ordinance to provide powers to require existing premises to connect to new sewers.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Saw the introduction in the Governor's Address to the Legislative Council of a requirement that all government departments appoint a "Green Manager".


Enforcement

  • Opened three new Local Control Offices in the EPD bringing the total to five.

 

1992
General

  • Saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Hong Kong and Canada on Environmental Collaboration.
  • Amended the Road Traffic Ordinance to empower the Commissioner for Transport to direct traffic on environmental grounds.


Noise

  • Completed Hong Kong's first "over-road" noise barrier at Tate's Cairn Tunnel approach roads to protect adjacent high rise dwellings from road traffic noise.


Waste

  • Commissioned the Island East Refuse Transfer Station.
  • Enacted regulations under the Waste Disposal Ordinance for the control of chemical wastes.


Water

  • Declared April 1 the First Appointed Day for the North Western Water Control Zone.
  • Completed the North West Kowloon sewage treatment and disposal project.
  • Launched the Dr Catherine Lam - the EPD's new marine environment monitoring vessel.


Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Saw an announcement in the Governor's Address to the Legislative Council that all Executive Council policy and project papers contain an Environmental Implications paragraph.
  • Introduced a requirement for an Environmental Implications paragraph in all Public Works Sub-Committee and Finance Committee papers.

 

1991
General

  • Published the 1 Review of the 1989 White Paper.


Air

  • Introduced unleaded petrol on April 1 to reduce harmful lead pollution.
  • Enacted the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) Regulations to require all new vehicles up to 2.5 tonnes to comply with stringent emission standards, and for all new vehicles with petrol engines to operate only on unleaded petrol, as from 1 January 1992.


Noise

  • Enacted the Noise Control (Air-Compressors) Regulations 1991 and the Noise Control (Hand Held Percussive Breakers) Regulations to require the equipment to comply with prescribed noise standards and to be affixed with a noise emission label before they could be used in Hong Kong.


Waste

  • Launched the Marine Dumping Action Plan to strengthen control over marine dumping operations and to deter marine dumping offences.
  • Commissioned the Sha Ling Livestock Waste Composting Plant.


Enforcement

  • Established the first two Local Control Offices (LCOs) to improve pollution control, services and liaison with the community.

 

1990
General

  • Saw the first meeting of the Hong Kong / Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group on July 11.


Community Awareness

  • Saw the launch of the first Environmental Protection Festival by the newly established Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC).


Air

  • Implemented the Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations to limit the sulphur content and viscosity of fuel oils. Significant improvement was seen in ambient sulphur dioxide levels.


Waste

  • Commissioned Hong Kong's first Refuse Transfer Station (RTS) at Kowloon Bay.
  • Phased out the Lai Chi Kok incinerator and Jordan Valley landfill.


Water

  • Declared December 1 the First Appointed Day for the Deep Bay and Mirs Bay Water Control Zones.
  • Introduced major amendments to the Water Pollution Control Ordinance to eliminate exemption for existing dischargers and to introduce a Technical Memorandum on discharge limits.