Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection
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Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection Hong Kong-GuangDong Full Co-operation by Hong Kong-Guangdong Environmental Outcomes for All to Share Environmental Protection 30 31 In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, this booklet records the collaborative efforts made by Hong Kong and Guangdong in environmental protection. Content Clear Sky: Collaboration to build a clear sky………………………………………04 Clean Water: Nurturing to protect Dongjiang water………………………………08 On 4 May 2017, Mr Yao Yisheng, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province (left four), exchanged views with Ms Christine Loh, Acting Secretary for the Environment (left five) and Mr Donald Tong, Permanent Secretary for the Green Mountain: Preservation to embrace green forestry…………………………12 Environment of Hong Kong (left three) and others over regional environmental co-operation during an event in Hong Kong. A group photo was taken to mark the occasion. Blue Ocean: Conservation to protect marine eco-system…………………………16 Development: Innovation for enhanced co-operation……………………………20 Way Forward: Progressing to embrace opportunities………………………………24 On 13 June 2016, Mr Lu Xiulu, Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province (right) met with Mr Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of Hong Kong (left). 2007 The Co-operation Agreement to Promote Energy Efficiency, Cleaner 2015 Production and Comprehensive A science team was set up to commence the Utilisation of Resources to Enterprises Study on Attainment of Air Pollutant Emission in Hong Kong and Guangdong was Reduction Targets for 2015 and the Study on signed. Finalising the Emission Reduction Targets for 2020. 2000 2003 2009 2014 The 1st meeting of the Hong The dedicated aqueduct between Dongjiang at Taiyuan and Kong-Guangdong Joint the Shenzhen Reservoir was commissioned, bringing about The Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Working Group on Sustainable significant and sustainable improvements in the quality of raw Production Partners Recognition Scheme Regional PM2.5 Study was launched. Development and Environmental water supplied to Hong Kong. The Dongjiang Water Quality was launched to give recognition and The enhancement of the Pearl River Delta Protection (JWGSDEP) was held in Protection Special Panel followed up on the measures for encouragement to enterprises for adopting regional air monitoring network was completed Guangzhou and agreed on the protecting the water environment of Dongjiang to safeguard cleaner production technologies and with monitoring coverage expanded to include setting up of eight special panels. the quality of water supplied to Hong Kong. practices. Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao. 2002 2005 2010 The regional air quality monitoring network The JWGSDEP published a study report on air A science team for the Pearl River Delta jointly established by the environmental pollution in Southern China and established various Regional Air Quality Management Plan Mid- monitoring authorities of Hong Kong and targets for improving the regional air quality. term Review was set up. Guangdong commenced operation. 2016 The 2016-2020 Co-operation Agreement between Hong Kong and Guangdong on Environmental Protection was signed. The Hong Kong-Guangdong Marine Environmental Management Special Panel was set up under the 2007 framework of the JWGSDEP. The second review of the Deep Bay (Shenzhen The first review of the Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) Water Pollution Control Joint Implementation Bay) Water Pollution Control Joint Programme was completed. Implementation Programme was completed. Exchanges between Hong Kong and Guangdong on environmental issues began in the 1980s. The Hong Kong- Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group was established in 1990. It was renamed the Hong Kong- Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (JWGSDEP) in 1999, The Pearl River Delta Water Quality Protection Special Panel forming a robust framework and operation mechanism. Panel leaders: Environmental Protection Department (Hong Kong side) and Environmental Protection Department JWGSDEP meets annually to review the annual work reports of the Expert Group and the seven Special Panels. The 4 of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) two sides also discuss and exchange views on environmental issues of mutual concern which need to be resolved. Terms of reference: Formulating a management plan for PRD water quality; discussing proposals and concrete action plans for enhancing co-operation in protecting PRD water quality. JWGSDEP The Mirs Bay and Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) Areas Environmental Management Special Panel (1)The Expert Group Panel leaders: Environmental Protection Department (Hong Kong side) and Shenzhen Human Settlements and Terms of reference: Drawing up annual work plan; putting forward recommendations, proposals and Environment Commission (Guangdong side) co-operation items; coordinating the discussions on special projects; examining the project 5 Terms of reference: Auditing the progress of the action plans for the protection of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay (Shenzhen outcome and reports for submission to JWGSDEP. Bay) of both sides; studying and making recommendations on how to enhance co-operation in improving the quality of the environment in Mirs Bay and Deep Bay; exchanging information and environmental impact assessment reports (2) The Special Panels on projects in Hong Kong and Guangdong which may affect Mirs Bay and Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay). The Pearl River Delta (PRD) Air Quality Management and Monitoring Special Panel Panel leaders: Environmental Protection Department (Hong Kong side) and Environmental Protection The Dongjiang Water Quality Protection Special Panel Department of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) Panel leaders: Development Bureau (Hong Kong side) and Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong 1 Province (Guangdong side) Terms of reference: Submitting to JWGSDEP suggestions and measures to improve regional air quality; 6 monitoring changes in regional air quality; evaluating the effectiveness of control measures; Terms of reference: Monitoring the water quality of Dongjiang and the Dongshen water supply systems; providing training to the staff of both sides; conducting technical exchanges; exploring the discussing the strategies and measures for further protecting and improving the water quality of Dongjiang; feasibility of introducing new technologies and measures to the region, etc. monitoring the effectiveness of the proposals on protecting and improving the water quality of Dongjiang. The Afforestation and Conservation Special Panel The Hong Kong-Guangdong Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Production Special Panel(Note: The Special Panel was upgraded in Panel leaders: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (Hong Kong side) and Forestry 2015 to become the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Cleaner Production, which directly reports to the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference.) Department of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) Panel leaders: Environmental Protection Department (Hong Kong side) and Economic and Information 2 Terms of reference: Deliberating on issues pertinent to the development of forestry and nature 7 Commission of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) conservation; exchanging information on issues such as greenery, afforestation, prevention of hill Terms of reference: Jointly studying and formulating policies that are conducive to the promotion of energy fire, management of conservation areas, protection of animals and plants, biodiversity and eco- efficiency and clean production of the two sides; encouraging enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong to tourism between the two places; exploring co-operation plans. practise energy efficiency and clean production. The Marine Resources and Conservation Special Panel The Hong Kong-Guangdong Marine Environmental Management Special Panel (established in October 2016) Panel leaders: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (Hong Kong side) and Department of Panel leaders: Environmental Protection Department (Hong Kong side) and Environmental Protection Department Ocean and Fisheries of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) of Guangdong Province (Guangdong side) 3 8 Terms of reference: Conducting exchanges and co-operation on issues pertinent to fisheries Terms of reference: Studying marine environmental issues in Hong Kong and Guangdong and formulating response management, conservation of Chinese White Dolphins, aquaculture and red tide monitoring of the two strategies; setting up a notification and alert system to enhance efforts to address cross-boundary marine environmental places, etc. issues; exchanging experiences; promoting co-operation; protecting and improving regional marine environment. 2 3 01 Blue Sky Collaboration to build a clear sky Sharing the same airshed, Hong Kong and Guangdong have a common interest in air quality. In 2002, the two sides announced the In September 2014, with the addition of a Macao monitoring station to the Joint Statement on Improving Air Quality in the PRD Region, pioneering then Guangdong-Hong Kong PRD Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network, the network was