Environment Bureau / Environmental Protection Department Eng
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Existing and planned measures on the promotion of racial equality Environment Bureau Environmental Protection Department The Environment Bureau (ENB) aims to develop Hong Kong into a more sustainable and liveable city. We will continue to implement the various blueprints for environmental protection and will in association with various bureaux and departments make sustained efforts to improve air quality, waste management, energy conservation, biodiversity as well as to combat climate change, etc. ENB and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) all attach great importance in facilitating equal access to our services by all members of the public, irrespective of their racial background amongst other things. Where applicable, measures will continue to be taken to cater for the special needs of the people of diverse race, such as their service needs. We will also continue to ensure that the provision of services to the public in these areas is in compliance with the Race Discrimination Ordinance. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT A. Environmental Protection A1 Customer Services Centre (CSC) Services The CSC is providing a wide range of services Concerned through the hotline 28383111, including pollution complaint registration, enquiry services, helpdesk service for the business community and latest news on EPD’s services. Existing When handling calls from non-Chinese/English Measures speaking people of diverse race, the CSC has already established procedures for seeking interpretation support service provided by the Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents - 1 - (CHEER) In-house courses/experience sharing sessions to introduce the application of CHEER will continue to be arranged to enhance staff understanding of working with people of diverse race Assessment of We will continue to review the services from time to Future Work time, with a view to meeting the needs of the people of diverse race. Additional Training/briefing will continue to be arranged for Measures staff to enhance their awareness of, and sensitivity Taken / To Be to, racial equality. taken A2 Environmental Compliance Services On law enforcement, interpretation services are Concerned provided for people of diverse race in relation to environmental offences to ensure they can understand the relevant laws and their rights. Existing EPD will continue to seek interpretation support Measures services provided by CHEER for people of diverse race in taking statement in relation to environmental offences to ensure they can understand the relevant laws and their rights. Assessment of We will continue to review the services from time to Future Work time and make improvement where necessary. Additional Training/briefing will continue to be arranged for Measures staff to enhance their awareness of, and sensitivity Taken / To Be to, racial equality. taken - 2 - A3 Environmental Education Center (EEC) in T ∙ PARK (also other EECs in waste facilities such as O ∙ PARK, WEEE ∙ PARK, Community Green Stations, etc.) Services The EEC of the T ∙ PARK provides educational, Concerned recreational and ecological facilities to the public. Visitors can reserve guided tours, spa sessions and shuttle bus service through on-line booking system. Existing Guided tour provided in three languages (Cantonese, Measures Putonghua & English) Leaflets published in Chinese & English Booking system available on-line in Chinese & English More use of photographs, infographics, animation, etc. in the website, leaflets, videos and exhibits in the EEC to facilitate people of diverse race to understand the key messages. Assessment of We will review the EEC services from time to time, Future Work with a view to meeting the needs of the people of diverse race. Additional Training/briefings will be arranged for T ∙ PARK Measures operator to enhance its staffs’ awareness of, and Taken / To Be sensitivity to, racial equality. taken Should requests be received from group of diverse race, we shall consider putting in place additional measures as appropriate to offer the necessary assistance (e.g. engagement of CHEER). (NOTE – We will do likewise as far as practicable in other EECs in waste facilities (e.g. O · PARK, WEEE · PARK, Community Green Stations) having regard to their scale and operations.) - 3 - A4 Clean Recycling – Website and EcoPark Services The Waste Reduction Website serves as a one-stop Concerned source of information about waste generation, reduction, recycling and management in Hong Kong. Together with the Visitor Centre at the EcoPark, they aim to promote community participation in reducing, reusing and recycling waste. Timely information and education materials has been posted for the general public, students, businesses, public agencies and the recycling trade on such topics as reducing consumption, preventing waste generation, purchasing more environmentally friendly products, recovering products and materials for reuse and recycling. Existing The Visitor Centre in EcoPark is providing guided Measures tours in English, Putonghua and Cantonese. Should requests be received from the people of diverse race group, we shall consider putting in place additional measures as appropriate to offer the necessary assistance (e.g. engagement of CHEER). The exhibits and display in the Visitor Centre are bilingual. Both the EcoPark and Waste Reduction Website are bilingual. Assessment of We will review the services from time to time, with Future Work a view to meeting the needs of the people of diverse race. Additional Training/briefing will be arranged for operator of Measures EcoPark Visitor Centre to enhance its staffs’ Taken / To Be awareness of, and sensitivity to, racial equality. taken The Clean Recycling promotion materials are bilingual and the posters are in four languages (Chinese, English, Filipino and Indonesian) to facilitate people of diverse race to understand the key messages. - 4 - B. Climate Change and Energy B1 Energy Efficiency Services ENB has been providing the public with Concerned information related to our policies on energy efficiency, renewable energy, etc. ENB would ensure racial equality in all our dealings with the public. Existing Our policies and their promotional information and Measures materials are neutral with regard to race. ENB has been following established internal procedures in handling public enquiries. Assessment of ENB will continue the existing measures and Future Work review our services regularly to facilitate equal access of all ethnic groups to the relevant information. Additional Should we receive any requests from the people of Measures diverse race group, we shall get in touch with Taken / To Be CHEER for assistance so that the information to be taken presented is in a comprehensible form to the people of diverse race group. B2 Climate Ready Website Services ENB has set up a Climate Ready website to Concerned promulgate information relevant to climate change to raise public awareness on the importance of combating climate change. Existing Information on the website is neutral with regard to Measures race and is produced in both Chinese and English. Assessment of We will continue the existing measures and review Future Work the website regularly to ensure neutrality in regard to race and that it is delivered bilingually. - 5 - Additional Should we receive any requests from the people of Measures diverse race group, we shall get in touch with Taken / To Be CHEER for assistance so that the information is in a taken comprehensible form to the people of diverse race group. B3 Charter on External Lighting Services ENB has set up a website on Charter on External Concerned Lighting to disseminate information relevant to the Charter. Existing Information on the website is neutral with regard to Measures race and is produced in both Chinese and English. Assessment of We will continue the existing measures and review Future Work the website regularly to ensure neutrality in regard to race and that it is delivered bilingually. Additional Should we receive any requests from the people of Measures diverse race group, we shall get in touch with Taken / To Be CHEER for assistance so that the information to be taken presented is in a comprehensible form to the people of diverse race group. C. Sustainability Development C1 Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) Services ENB provides support to the SDC in conducting Concerned territory-wide public engagements to harness public opinions on key sustainability issues. Existing The public engagements aim to engage the Hong Measures Kong community at large, regardless of race and nationality. The Public Engagement document and other relevant materials are produced in both Chinese and English. Simultaneous translation (English-Cantonese) will be provided at public - 6 - engagement events (e.g. regional forums) where necessary. Assessment of ENB will continue to strictly enforce the existing Future Work measures, and assess our service delivery regularly to ensure neutrality in regard to race and that they are delivered bilingually. Additional Should any requests from the people of diverse Measures race group be received, ENB will get in touch Taken / To Be with CHEER for assistance so that the taken information is in a comprehensible form to the people of diverse race group. C2 Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) Services The SDF is open for application from organisations Concerned (including non-governmental and community organisations, academic and research institutes,