|
Mission:
To protect the environment and human
health by tackling cross boundary pollution problems and by
promoting collaborative efforts through regional and international
co-operation. |
-
Established a joint regional air quality monitoring network
with Guangdong and started reporting the Regional Air Quality
Index on a daily basis.
-
Signed a co-operation arrangement with the State Environmental
Protection Administration on air pollution.
-
Participated in environmental protection work under the Pan
Pearl River Delta Co-operation.
-
Held a stakeholder consultation workshop on the preparation
of the Hong Kong Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
-
Started preparing new legislation to control the import, export,
manufacture and use of non-pesticide hazardous chemicals in
Hong Kong.
|
Hong Kong and Guangdong share the same air and water. |
Pollution does
not respect boundaries. It can drift by air or sea or be imported
as waste aboard ships, from one jurisdiction to another. The
only way to tackle these problems is through joint efforts
in which all parties share responsibility for reducing pollution.
Recognising this situation, the Environmental Protection Department
(EPD) has set up a Cross-boundary and International Division
to put a sharper focus on our efforts to deal with regional
and international pollution issues.
The division was set up on 1 April 2005, when the EPD merged
with the environment arm of the Environment, Transport and
Works Bureau. The merger provided an opportunity to elevate
our regional and international efforts by having them spearheaded
by a Deputy Director. Cross-boundary co-operation is a major
part of our work and the new division will bolster our efforts
here. The division will also deal with international conventions
to restrict pollution and help to promote the EPD’s
work and achievements at international conferences.
|
At the heart of our cross-boundary work is the Hong Kong-Guangdong
Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental
Protection. This high-level group provides a structure for regular
co-operation on a range of environmental and sustainability issues,
under the co-chairmanship of Hong Kong’s Secretary for the
Environment, Transport and Works and Guangdong’s Director
of Environmental Protection. It was formed in June 2000, following
a decade of contacts and co-operation between the two administrations.
The Joint Working Group held its sixth meeting in December 2005
to review progress on a number of co-operative initiatives and discuss
the work plan for 2006. Emphasis was placed mainly on air and water
pollution, as described below, but other tasks were also discussed.
These included the protection of the Dongjiang River’s water
quality, afforestation, conservation of marine resources, promotion
of energy efficiency and clean production in industries, and the
strengthening of technical exchanges and training for officers from
both administrations.
|
|
The Hong Kong-Guangdong
Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental
Protection holds its sixth meeting in Guangdong on 20 December
2005. |
|
A top priority for both Hong Kong and Guangdong is air pollution.
Smog has become a frequent, visible problem, formed when air pollution
from across the region mixes under the sun. The best way to solve
this problem is through joint action so in 2002 the Hong Kong and
Guangdong governments agreed to work together to reduce air pollution.
Ambitious targets were set for cutting pollution to well below 1997
levels by 2010. The two governments produced a joint plan of action,
released in 2003, that aimed to achieve the targets. So far we have
made good progress in getting key initiatives in place.
Individually, each side has taken a number of steps towards meeting
their targets. Hong Kong has made considerable progress in reducing
street-level pollution through our motor vehicle emissions programme.
We have also turned our sights to power plant emissions and volatile
organic compounds (see Chapter 6 for
details). Guangdong, for its part, is building four large scale
natural gas power plants that will start operating in phases from
2006. Flue gas desulphurisation will be installed in all other power
plants with a capacity of 125 megawatts or greater by 2007. Low
nitrogen oxide burners are also being installed and highly polluting
coal-fired boilers and industrial furnaces are being phased out.
For vehicles, strict emission standards for new vehicles are being
introduced together with low sulphur motor diesel.
|
|
Mr K K KWOK,
Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
(Environment), (front row second right in left photo, and first
left in right photo), and members of the Advisory Council on
the Environment visit Guangdong to see the operation of the
Pearl River Delta regional air quality monitoring network. |
The EPD and Guangdong’s Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB)
are also pursuing co-operative actions to tackle air pollution.
They meet formally twice a year and hold frequent working level
meetings and site visits, to monitor progress, share expertise and
undertake joint initiatives. On November 30, two sides launched
a joint regional air quality monitoring network comprising 13 stations
in Guangdong and three in Hong Kong. The Regional Air Quality Index
for each station is being reported on a daily basis on both the
EPD’s and EPB’s web sites. A longer-term report on air
quality trends will be published every six months. Another goal
for the coming year is to finalise details of a pilot emissions
trading scheme for power plants in the region.
|
|
The public can view the
Regional Air Quality Index for each monitoring station through
the Internet. |
Dr Sarah LIAO, Secretary
for the Environment, Transport and Works (centre left), and
Mr ZHU Xingxiang, Director-General of the Department of EIA
Management of SEPA (centre right), exchange views on a boat
trip. |
Apart from working with Guangdong, the EPD also co-operates with
its colleagues at the national level in the State Environmental
Protection Administration (SEPA). Regular exchanges and co-operation
started in 2004 on environmental impact assessment matters and was
extended to air pollution in 2005.
While Hong Kong and Guangdong share the same airshed, they also
share several water bodies, such as the Pearl River estuary, Deep
Bay and Mirs Bay. We have an established history of co-operation
with Guangdong to improve water quality, particularly in Deep Bay
and Mirs Bay. In 2005 the focus was broadened through Hong Kong’s
membership of the Pan Pearl River Delta Co-operation.
The Co-operation covers nine Mainland provinces (including Guangdong),
Hong Kong and Macao. In 2005 members agreed at their annual meeting
to co-operate to control pollution along the length of the Pearl
River. The primary goals are to protect water quality at source
through sustainable means.
Separately, Hong Kong and Guangdong continued to work on the development
of a joint Pearl River Delta Water Quality Model in 2005. This has
a more specific downstream focus and aims to provide a reliable
analytical tool for devising solutions to control water pollution
in the Pearl River Delta region. The model should be completed in
2006. We are also collaborating with the Shenzhen authorities to
investigate additional measures and further joint actions for controlling
water pollution in Deep Bay.
|
|
A joint Pearl River Delta Water Quality
Model is being developed. |
Mr Edmond HO, Principal Environmental
Protection Officer, presents a paper at the Pan Pearl River Delta
Water Environment Protection Forum in Guangzhou in September
2005. |
The EPD’s efforts to reduce trans-boundary pollution reflect
the idea that environmental protection is a shared responsibility.
This applies to our international efforts, too, as described in
the boxes. Collaboration at a regional and international level is
essential for combating those forms of pollution that cross boundaries.
Governments everywhere are recognising that fact, as reflected by
the growing number of international conventions, agreements and
conferences. The result will be a healthier environment for everyone.
|
Dr Michael CHIU, Acting
Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
(Environment) (1st row, third from right) and Mr Esmond LEE,
Deputy Director of Environmental Protection (1st row, second
from left), attend the 2nd Joint Conference on Pan-Pearl River
Delta Regional Environmental Protection Co-operation in Chengdu
in July 2005. |
The Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change
came into effect in February 2005, in which a large number
of developed countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 5.2 per cent by 2012. China, and by extension Hong Kong,
is a developing country and not required to meet this deadline.
Nonetheless, as a member of the international community,
the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed
to trying to reduce our emissions. We have placed a cap on
power plant emissions to address regional air pollution, which
will also reduce greenhouse gases. We are also working with
the State Environmental Protection Administration on procedures
for pursuing projects under the "clean development mechanism"
in Hong Kong.
|
|
EPD
holds a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the preparation
of the Hong Kong Implementation Plan for the Stockholm
Convention on 18 November 2005. |
The dramatic growth in chemical production
and trade during the past three decades has highlighted the
potential risks posed by hazardous chemicals (including pesticides)
to human health and the environment. Recognising this fact,
a number of international conventions have been adopted in
recent years to deal with the global issue of hazardous chemicals.
The Stockholm Convention aims to control
potentially harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
It came into effect in China, and by extension Hong Kong,
in November 2004. Since then the Hong Kong SAR Government
has been developing a Hong Kong Implementation Plan for incorporation
into the national implementation plan of the People’s
Republic of China, which will be submitted to the Conference
of the Parties of the Convention in November 2006. Stakeholder
consultation is an important part of this process. In Hong
Kong, a stakeholder consultation workshop was convened in
November 2005, led by the EPD, to seek views on POPs-related
issues in Hong Kong. Our implementation plan will take into
account stakeholders’ opinions and suggestions.
A second recent convention, the Rotterdam
Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade,
became applicable to China in June 2005, but is not yet applicable
to Hong Kong. To prepare for its implementation, as well as
fulfil the requirements of the Stockholm Convention, the EPD
is preparing new legislation to control the import, export,
manufacture and use of non-pesticide hazardous chemicals in
Hong Kong. We aim to submit this legislation to the Legislative
Council in 2006.
Mr Esmond LEE,
Deputy Director of Environmental Protection (centre
left), meets Mr YUE Ruisheng, Deputy Director General
of SEPA (centre right) and Mr MENG Jianhong, Second
Secretary of Ministry of the Foreign Affairs (third
from right), in Beijing in September 2005 to discuss
the preparation of the draft Hong Kong Implementation
Plan for the Stockholm Convention.
|
|
|
-
Introduce an emissions trading pilot scheme for thermal power
plants in the Pearl River Delta region.
-
Complete the Pearl River Delta Water Quality Model and initiate
discussion with Guangdong authorities on the development of
a regional water quality management plan for the Pearl River
Delta.
-
Submit the Hong Kong Implementation Plan for the Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Central People’s
Government.
-
Introduce the Hazardous Chemicals Control Bill into the Legislative
Council.
|
|