ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE REPORT 2011
 
Contents | Foreword | Executive Summary | Appendix | Verification Statement | Feedback | 繁體 | 简体 | HTML | PDF
 
1 Scope Of This Report | 2 Our Profile | 3 Environmental Impacts Of Our Operations |
4 Improving Hong Kong's Environment | 5 Social Engagement | 6 Our Economic Impacts |
7 Targets - Our Progress and 2011 Aims
 
 
Foreword

Hong Kong is one of the best cities in the world and should have a world-class environment. But this is easier said than done, as our growing urbanisation and rising population places significant stress on our environment that is not always easy to tackle. Our air quality has been the subject of much discussion in recent years and our growing waste problems have placed pressure on our waste management facilities. Our high population also requires modern and efficient sewage treatment systems. To this end, we have put in place policies and legislation that are formulated to address these issues.

We have reviewed our Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) with reference to the latest World Health Organisation's air quality guidelines. We have identified 19 measures for improving Hong Kong's air quality and are taking forward the recommended measures which have reached public consensus. Furthermore, improving roadside air quality is one of our priorities and we have set up a $300 million Pilot Green Transport Fund aimed at public transport operators in addition to setting aside $540 million for a three-year incentive programme to help vehicle operators switch from Euro II diesel commercial vehicles to new ones which comply with the prevailing emission standard. Hong Kong is an active partner of Guangdong in combating regional pollution. This partnership has been further strengthened by the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation signed in April 2010 which sets out the key areas of co-operation between the two sides in, inter alia, environmental protection and ecological conservation. Under the Framework Agreement, Hong Kong and Guangdong are committed to reducing the emissions of air pollutants in the Pearl River Delta region, and are undertaking a joint study to look into the emission reduction arrangements for 2010 onwards.

We keep on expanding our sewerage for achieving a cleaner harbour. Water quality of Victoria Harbour has improved significantly since we implemented the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 1 in 2001. In April 2010, we secured funding for the HATS Stage 2A works to cope with the increasing sewage loads. In parallel, we have also advanced the construction of some disinfection facilities under HATS Stage 2A for full commissioning in March 2010, which has led to better water quality at the western part of the harbour and the beaches in Tsuen Wan.

Municipal solid waste is still a serious challenge as the space we have set aside for waste disposal is running out. In answer to this, we awarded the Design and Construction consultancy to extend the NENT landfill and completed feasibility studies on extending WENT and SENT landfills in 2010. However, relying on landfills is not a sustainable or long-term answer. Following engineering feasibility and environmental impact assessment studies, we will commence tender preparation work for developing the Integrated Waste Management Facilities which would substantially reduce the volume of municipal solid waste requiring landfill disposal and recover energy from the waste for Hong Kong's beneficial uses. We are also putting measures in place to increase recycling rates and explore modern technologies, such as food waste processing.

Whilst providing infrastructure for the cleanup of our activities and management of our waste and wastewater are important, educating our citizens and raising awareness on environmental protection are, in our views, the key for our future sustainable development. Hence, we are not just limiting ourselves on improving the quality of the air we breathe and addressing our diminishing landfill space problems but we are preparing to tackle the growing threat of climate change and the potential impacts this will have on our society.

To chart the way forward for Hong Kong as a low carbon city, we carried out a public consultation on Hong Kong's climate change strategy and action agenda for the coming decade from 10 September 2010 to 31 December 2010. The consultation document proposed for Hong Kong a target to reduce carbon intensity by 50-60 per cent by 2020 when compared with 2005. It outlined an action agenda to further reduce local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through various means, including community-wide participation in enhancing energy efficiency, greening road transportation and use of clean, low carbon fuels for electricity generation. A broad direction for adaptation measures was also set for major sectors in Hong Kong that are identified as more vulnerable to climate change. Maximising energy efficiency plays a crucial role towards achieving the target of GHG emissions reduction. In order to improve energy efficiency in buildings, we enacted the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance in November last year. The new legislation specifies the energy efficiency design standards for four key types of building service installations, and requires certain buildings to conduct energy audits. We will commence the full operation of the legislation in September 2012.

We recognise the importance of the involvement of the public and the various stakeholder parties with an interest in sustaining Hong Kong for our work. On this front, we will continue to encourage public participation such that people's concerns are taken into account early on in the planning process of new projects and no unacceptable environmental impacts will be created by developments. In addition, through the Council for Sustainable Development's public engagement process, we are able to gather public views on key sustainability issues for reference in shaping policies and measures. In 2010, the Council completed the public engagement on "Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment", which received about 1 400 submissions. Based on the findings, the Council made over 50 recommendations for consideration, most of which have been taken forward by the Government.

The Secretary for the Environment joined the China delegation to the UN Conference on Climate Change in Mexico in December 2010. We also became a member of the C40 Steering Committee on Electric Vehicles (EVs). The compact size of our city makes it an ideal place to test and promote EV technologies and we started to do so in 2009. In addition, Hong Kong hosted the C40 Workshop on 5 and 6 November 2010. Mayors and representatives from over 30 C40 member and affiliate cities, overseas experts, representatives from the trades, government officials and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) took part in the Workshop to share their strategies and experience in combating climate change, focusing on green transport and low carbon built environment.

We welcome your feedback on our efforts. Together we can improve Hong Kong's environment and move towards a sustainable city.

Anissa WONG, JP
Permanent Secretary for the Environment /
Director of Environmental Protection
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