Milestones in Hong Kong Environmental Protection - 2011

2011

Community Awareness

  • Held the 2010 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) Awards Presentation Ceremony cum 2011 HKAEE Launching Ceremony with the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC).
  • Organised World Environment Day events on the theme of global warming and low carbon living, which included a Global Warming and Climate Variation Seminar, the prize presentation ceremony and the screening of outstanding entries of the Low Carbon Living @ Hong Kong Video Competition.
  • Marked the EPD's 25th anniversary with a set of roving exhibitions that showcased efforts by the EPD, in partnership with the community, to enhance Hong Kong's environment and quality of life.
  • With the ECC, introduced a new series of metal waste separation bins designed by local designers and artists, under the Promotion Programme on Source Separation of Waste.
  • Jointly organised the MTR Staircase Design Competition for the ECC MTR Environmental Award for Schools 2011 with the ECC and the MTR Corporation.

 

Environmental Compliance

  • Implemented the Clinical Waste Control Scheme, bringing the collection, transportation, and disposal of clinical waste under statutory control.

 

Air

  • Introduced the $300 million Pilot Green Transport Fund to support the public transport sector and goods vehicle owners in testing out green and innovative transport technologies.
  • Saw the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance come into operation; it contains a statutory prohibition against idling vehicles with running engines.
  • Released the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Report for 2010 and for the first half of 2011.

 

Energy

  • Launched the three-month consultation on restriction of sale of energy-inefficient incandescent light bulbs.
  • Fully implemented the second phase of the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme.

 

Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Submitted the EIA Report for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1 in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance; it was subsequently endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) before the end of the year.

 

Waste

  • Announced a comprehensive strategy, "Reduce, Recycle and Proper Waste Management", to tackle Hong Kong’s waste problem.
  • Briefed the Legislative Council's Panel on Environmental Affairs on the proposed way forward for two mandatory producer responsibility schemes (PRS) – (i) extending the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags to cover all retailers, and (ii) introduce a new mandatory PRS for the proper management of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The proposals were made after consolidating the findings from two respective public consultation exercises.
  • Substantially completed the upgrade works for the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC), which enabled it to meet the latest European Union air emission standards as well as to receive and treat clinical waste..
  • Began disposal of clinical waste at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre (CWTC) in an environmentally sound and safe manner. Disposal of clinical waste at the CWTC is subject to a charge of about $2.7 per kilogram.
  • Held the Forum on Source Separation of Waste cum Award Presentation Ceremony 2011.
  • Awarded the first batch of Phase 2 lots in EcoPark to five recyclers, who are recycling waste metals, waste batteries, construction wastes/ waste glass, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and waste rubber tyres.
  • Finalised the expansion proposal of the existing mercury waste treatment facility at the CWTC to cope with an increase in demand for proper treatment of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and other mercury containing lamps and waste. The expansion will be implemented in 2012.
  • Enlisted 1791 housing estates/residential buildings and 732 commercial & industrial buildings to join the Programme on Source Separation of Waste.
  • Commenced operation of the Community Recycling Network.

 

Water

  • Re-opened four previously closed beaches to the public on June 15 – Approach Beach, Casam Beach, Hoi Mei Wan Beach and Lido Beach – following improvements to water quality. The improvements were achieved by implementing disinfection facilities at Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works and making continued progress in connecting houses to public sewers in the beaches' hinterland.
  • Completed the statutory procedures for rezoning the proposed site of the underground biological treatment plant under Stage 2B of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme.

 

Customer Service and Partnership

  • Organised the Appointment Ceremony for the 2011-2013 Environmental Ambassadors of the Vehicle Repair Trade in collaboration with the two SME vehicle repair trade associations and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
  • Produced "Guidelines on Air Pollution Control for Paper Artifacts Burning at Funeral Parlours and Other Places of Worship" to improve the environmental performance of the trade. Also organized a seminar to encourage the trade to adopt the Best Available Technology for air pollution control.
  • Launched a 5-month programme of awareness promotion activities for the promulgation of the Clinical Waste Control Scheme, which comprised 31 seminars for healthcare stakeholders, allocation of waste producer premises codes, issuance of licences, distribution of information leaflets and operation of a dedicated hotline.
  • Engaged in the Development Bureau's annual Considerate Contractors Site Award Scheme to audit participating contractors' environmental performance; and serve on the assessment panel for the Outstanding Environmental Management and Performance Award.
  • Held a technical seminar on environmental management / reporting for the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries (HKICS) to promote corporate environmental management (CEM) and introduce the EPD's CEM tools to the target audiences.
  • Engaged in the Housing Authority's review of the Integrated Pay for Safety, Environment and Hygiene Scheme.
  • Co-organised a joint Safety, Health and Environmental Seminar to promote waste recycling services provided by EcoPark tenants to the construction industry, with CLP Power Hong Kong, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Highways Department.
  • Collaborated with Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong District Councils in conducting 91 environmental building audits under Quality Building Management Competitions.

 

Cross Boundary and International Co-operation

  • Saw Hong Kong become a member of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) Steering Committee, which is responsible for setting the group's direction of work.
  • Saw the Secretary for the Environment attend the C40 Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil to share with member cities Hong Kong's strategies and experiences in tackling climate change.
  • Set up a "Hong Kong Pavilion" at the 12th China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference (CIEPEC) in Beijing to support Hong Kong’s environmental service sector to showcase our environmental technologies and services. A delegation of Hong Kong's environmental industry attended the exhibition and visited the relevant Mainland environmental protection authorities.
  • Signed the "Cooperation Agreement between Hong Kong and Guangdong on Combating Climate Change" at the 14th Plenary of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference, which was held in Hong Kong and co-chaired by the CE and the Governor of Guangdong Province. Under the agreement, a Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Liaison Group on Combating Climate Change would be set up to promote cooperation and exchanges on greenhouse gas emission reduction activities and scientific research and technology development.
  • Jointly completed the first review of the "Mirs Bay Water Quality Regional Control Strategy" with the Human Settlements and Environment Commission of Shenzhen Municipality.
  • Jointly launched with Guangdong and Macau a three-month public consultation on initial proposals for the Regional Cooperation Plan on Building a Quality Living Area.
  • Awarded "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partner" commendations to the third batch of Hong Kong enterprises, to recognise their efforts in pursuing cleaner production.
  • Co-organised the 6th Eco Expo Asia with the Trade and Development Council, to promote the development of the environmental industry and a low carbon economy in the region.
  • Set up a "Hong Kong Pavilion" in the 6th Eco Expo Asia to support Hong Kong's environmental service sector to showcase the environmental technologies and services of Hong Kong.
  • Joined the Chinese delegation to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference at Durban, South Africa.

 

Nature Conservation

  • Saw the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) announce its acceptance of Hong Kong National Geopark as a member of the GGN. Subsequent to gaining membership, Hong Kong National Geopark was officially renamed Hong Kong Global Geopark of China.

 

Sustainable Development

  • Saw the Council for Sustainable Development launch a public engagement process on "Combating Climate Change: Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings"
  • Approved a total of $7.3 million in grants for seven projects, in the 8th round of applications under the Sustainable Development Fund.
  • Launched the 9th round of applications under the Sustainable Development Fund.