Environmental Compliance

Closed Beaches Re-open

Casam Beach

Improvement works in Tsuen Wan, including anti-pollution enforcement, the building of sewerage and sewage treatment facilities and the opening of the Advance Disinfection Facility, led to the re-opening of four previously closed beaches in June 2011. The occasion was a welcome reminder of the positive benefits of water pollution control (see Water for further details).

Pollution Complaints

Total no. of complaint cases received

Total no. of complaint cases received

Enlarge Total no. of complaint cases receivedSee Data Total no. of complaint cases received

Pollution Complaints in 2011

Pollution Complaints in 2011

Enlarge Pollution Complaints in 2011See Data Pollution Complaints in 2011

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) handled 20 178 pollution complaints in 2011 (21 915 if pollution complaints made to police are included). This was down seven per cent from 2010 and continued a steady drop in complaints since 2007 when the total was 25 150 (27 531 including complaints to police). About one-fifth of complaints concerned vehicle emissions, a problem that is being addressed with new measures to tighten vehicle emission controls (see Air for further details).

Complaints to the EPD are handled by our Customer Service Centre (CSC), who was able to resolve about 37 per cent of complaints in 2011; the rest were referred to our regional or territorial offices for follow-up. The CSC also handles enquiries and in 2011 received about 29 000 enquiries, of which 87 per cent were resolved by the Centre.

(left)The EPD Customer Service Centre was awarded the Special Achievement in GIS by the leading GIS supplier ESRI, for the enhanced Pollution Complaint Management Modules system in its operations; (centre) EPD representative, Mr Dane Tsa, standing photo left, receives the award from ESRI president, Mr Jack Dangermond in July 2012; (right) a CSC operator is aided by GIS in handling a telephone complaint.

(left)The EPD Customer Service Centre was awarded the Special Achievement in GIS by the leading GIS supplier ESRI, for the enhanced Pollution Complaint Management Modules system in its operations; (centre) EPD representative, Mr Dane Tsa, standing photo left, receives the award from ESRI president, Mr Jack Dangermond in July 2012; (right) a CSC operator is aided by GIS in handling a telephone complaint.