Milestones in Hong Kong Environmental Protection - 2016

2016

Air

  • Began a review of the Air Quality Objectives (AQOs).
  • Continued to phase out pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles through an ex-gratia payment scheme. By the end of 2016, about 49,700 had been phased out.
  • Supported trials of greener vehicles including electric buses.
  • Announced tighter emission caps for power plants from 2021.

 

Noise

  • Added more items to the list of quieter construction equipment that qualifies as Quality Powered Mechanical Equipment, bringing the total to 15.
  • Continued resurfacing local road sections with low-noise road surfacing materials; by the end of 2016, 69 local road sections had been resurfaced benefiting about 130,000 people.
  • Continued retrofitting noise barriers along local road sections; by the end of 2016, 17 road sections had been retrofitted benefiting about 56,000 people and work had begun on two more sites.

 

Water

  • Achieved 100 per cent compliance with beach water quality objectives at all 41 gazetted beaches for the seventh year in row.
  • Co-ordinated inter-departmental efforts to handle a sudden summer surge in marine refuse on Hong Kong’s southern beaches and coastal areas.
  • Set up the Hong Kong-Guangdong Marine Environment Management Special Panel under the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection.
  • Commissioned a two-year consultancy study on further enhancing the quality of the coastal waters of Victoria Harbour.

 

Environmental Assessment & Planning

  • Approved the EIA reports for a number of major development projects, such as Tung Chung New Town Extension, Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area and Sha Tin Cavern Sewage Treatment Works.
  • Provided environmental advice on strategic studies of territorial and regional development plans, cavern and underground space development, waste infrastructure development, a water resources management plan, etc.
  • Vetted the environmental implications of 268 funding and policy proposals submitted to important bodies such as the Executive Council and the Legislative Council.
  • Organised a round-table forum on international EIA laws and policies for EIA regulators and professionals from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Australia, Japan, Europe and North America.
  • Strengthened exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland on EIA systems and practices, with the signing of a framework agreement on collaboration between the EPD and the Appraisal Center for Environment and Engineering (ACEE) under the Ministry of Environment.

 

Environmental Compliance

  • Continue with stepped-up enforcement against fly-tipping and a review of the trial surveillance camera system launched in 2015 at 12 black spots.
  • Conducted more than 400 inspections of electronic waste sites.

 

Waste Reduction and Facilities

  • Undertook preparatory work with a view to introducing enabling legislation for MSW charging.
  • Received Legislative Council approval to increase disposal charges for construction waste from 2017.
  • Saw passage of enabling legislation for producer responsibility schemes on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and glass beverage containers.
  • Began construction of a WEEE Treatment and Recycling Facility.
  • Introduced a scheme for regulating the recycling of waste cooking oils.
  • Completed construction of new Community Green Stations in Kwun Tong and Yuen Long.
  • Commenced full operation of T · PARK, a facility that combines sludge treatment and community amenities.
  • Commenced construction of the ORRC Phase 1, which will convert 200 tonnes of food waste into electricity and compost each day.
  • Received tenders from pre-qualified tenderers for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) Phase 1, and began tender preparations for a trial of food waste/sewage sludge co-digestion.
  • Implemented the Waste Diversion Plan following the designation of Southeast New Territories (SENT) Landfill to receive only construction waste.
  • Received 27 applications in the first batch of the Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme.
  • Continued with preparations to extend the capacity of the existing landfills.

 

Energy

  • Commenced negotiations on the post-2018 SCAs with the two power companies.
  • Continue to increase local gas generation to help achieve the 2020 fuel mix plan.
  • Launched the Energy Saving for All 2016 Campaign to foster partnership in promoting energy saving in the community.
  • Launched the Charter on External Lighting to tackle light nuisance and reduce energy wastage that may be caused by external lighting installations.
  • Held green building engagements with stakeholders from the built environment and energy sectors.

 

Nature Conservation

  • Launched the Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2021.
  • Proposed a plan to phase out the local trade in ivory.
  • Designated The Brothers Marine Park.
  • Launched the Second Phase of the “Take Your Litter Home” public education programme in country parks.
  • Enhanced the accessibility and visibility of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.

 

Customer Service and Partnership

  • Collaborated with the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) to promote environmental best practices for the construction industry.
  • Collaborated with the Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin District Councils to conduct 37 environmental building audits for Quality Building Management Competitions.
  • Supported the Home Affairs Department’s Quality Property Management Initiatives.
  • Gave a presentation to the vehicle repair trade on relevant environmental legislation, at a seminar organised by the Automobile Training Board.
  • Conducted a seminar for the catering industry on suitable air pollution control equipment for removing cooking fumes from restaurants.
  • Commissioned the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to continue the Green Yu Lan project on ways to reduce air pollution caused by burning joss papers and paper artefacts during the Yu Lan Festival.

 

Community Awareness

  • Mobilised the community to support clean recycling and low carbon living through the Clean Recycling Campaign and World Environment Day publicity event.
  • Provided more than $170 million to support 193 community-initiated projects through the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF).
  • Received 1,505 entries for the 2016 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence and Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards and honoured 184 winners of the 2015 awards.
  • Welcomed more than 159,000 visitors to the Sha Tin and Eastern Community Green Stations, and more than 91,000 visitors to the Fanling, Tsuen Wan, Wan Chai and Mobile Environmental Centres, and the Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre.
  • Enrolled more than 10,300 students in the Student Environmental Ambassador Scheme and awarded 58 schools (including 12 pre-schools) with the Hong Kong Green School Award.
  • Enhanced the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in schools and collected 4,200 items of WEEE.

 

Sustainable Development

  • Saw the Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) launch a public engagement exercise on the promotion of sustainable consumption of biological resources.
  • Initiated a new award scheme to encourage undergraduate students in local tertiary institutes to plan and implement activities that promote sustainability.
  • Launched the 12th round of applications under the Sustainable Development Fund.
  • Welcomed the participation of 78 schools in the Sustainable Development School Outreach Programme and 44 schools in the Sustainable Development School Award Programme.

 

Cross-boundary And International Co-operation

  • Signed the 2016-2020 Co-operation Agreement (CA) on Environmental Protection with Guangdong authorities to further enhance cross-boundary co-operation.
  • Signed the CA on Prevention and Control of Air Pollution from Vessels between the Mainland and Hong Kong with the Maritime Safety Administration of the Ministry of Transport.
  • Established an Inter-departmental Steering Committee on Climate Change.
  • Held a high-level lunch for business leaders on climate change and a Climate Change Stakeholder Exchange Forum.
  • Organised a Carbon Audit Seminar for Hong Kong-listed companies.