GREEN EVENT June 2011 ISSUE EPD Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Serving Hong Kong 25 Years of Sustained Effort for a Greener Future Mr Edward Yau (sixth from left), Ms Anissa Wong (fifth from left) and EPD senior management propose a toast at the launch ceremony of the roving exhibition. T o mark its 25th anniversary, the En- their own shopping bags, promoting energy and pictorial display panels to illustrate the vironmental Protection Department has organ- efficiency and switching off vehicle engines achievements and changes in the local environ- ized a series of public activities, which high- while waiting. This is a great leap forward ment since the department’s establishment in light the EPD’s work and the importance of its when compared with the situation a few dec- 1986. It covers environmental protection issues mission. ades ago,” he said. such as the handling of pollution problems, promoting green living, enhancing regional A roving exhibition, which was opened to Also speaking at the ceremony, the Perma- co-operation and measures to combat climate the public at the Hong Kong Central Library on nent Secretary for the Environment/ change. June 18, showcases the efforts of the EPD, in Director of Environmental Protec- partnership with the community, to enhance the tion, Ms Anissa Wong, noted Public television announce- environment and quality of life. that Hong Kong’s environ- ments produced over the ment has been significantly years are also on display at Speaking at the launch ceremony on June improved after 25 years of the exhibition to recall ma- 17, Secretary for the Environment Mr Edward hard work. She thanked the jor environmental issues Yau said various goals of environmental pro- community for its support from the past. Participants tection have been achieved through the drive and co-operation, saying can also try some interac- of the Government as well as the co-operation that she hopes that the rov- tive multimedia games about and support of members of the public and com- ing exhibition can provide an environmental protection. munity partners. opportunity for members of the Roving exhibition panels at public to review the fruits of their Central Library. “Nowadays, we witness increasing public efforts and to continue their support to The exhibition will move to Revenue awareness of environmental protection. Peo- make Hong Kong a greener place. Tower in Wan Chai from July 25 to 29, and ple are willing to pitch in more to protect the then to other locations across Hong Kong until environment, such as by recycling, bringing The roving exhibition features descriptive March 2012. p1 GREEN EVENT Green Hong Kong June 2011 Issue Student Design Competitions As part of events marking the 25th anniversary, the student design competitions are intended to raise public awareness of climate change and low carbon living among the younger generation. Awards were hand- ed out to the winners at the launch ceremony of the roving exhibition. For primary, secondary and tertiary students, the respective compe- titions were: “Environmental Protection Mascot Handkerchief Design Competition”, “Environmental Protection Old Song New Lyrics Compe- tition”, and “3D Environmental Protection Mascot Design Competition”. First prize entry of the 3D Environmental Protection Mascot Design Competition. The champions in the three categories were: Primary: Kan Long Yin, A.D. & F.D. of Pok Oi Hospital Mrs Cheng Yam On Environmental Protection Old Song New Lyrics Millennium School Competition champion Ho Secondary: Jia Jun’s performance. Ho Jia Jun, Wai Kiu College Tertiary: So Hon Kuen, IVE School of Business and Information Systems First prize entry of the Their winning designs and lyrics as well as those of the runners-up in Environmental Protection Mascot Handkerchief Design all the three categories can be found on the Environmental Campaign Competition . Committee’s website at: http://www.ecc.org.hk/english/core/core_detail_list.php?catid=205 Open Days at Environmental Facilities The EPD has also organized other anniversary activities for public partici- pation. In May and June, a series of open days were held on weekends at dif- ferent modern environmental and resource-recovery facilities around the city. It was a first-hand opportunity for the public to learn about and experience waste management as well as environmental restoration and recovery activities through guided tours, presentations and demonstrations. The response to this event was enthusiastic. All scheduled visiting sessions were soon fully booked. Participants visit the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre on Open Days. Through the visits, participants had a better understanding of the huge vol- ume of waste disposed of in Hong Kong every day so as to better appreciate the effort and high level of efficiency needed to handle it on a daily basis. The establishment of the EPD on April 1, 1986 marked a significant mile- stone in Hong Kong’s efforts to protect and improve its environment. For the first time, the majority of pollution control and prevention activities were brought under a single umbrella, allowing for the effective integration of envi- ronmental monitoring, policy formulation and enforcement. p2 GREEN EVENT Green Hong Kong June 2011 Issue Plan To Extend Plastic Shopping Bag Levy Scheme Public consultation document is available at the EPD and District Offices. Reduce Administrative Burdens on Retailers Unlike the existing scheme, however, it is H ong Kong people’s shopping habits The document proposes to fully extend the proposed that retailers could retain the levy in- have changed for the better over the last couple scheme to cover all retailers regardless of scale stead of remitting the collected charges to the of years. It’s now a common sight to see peo- with a view towards maximising waste reduc- Government. ple bringing along their own reusable shopping tion. bags when they shop at supermarkets and other The proposed “retention” approach would major retailers. Minimise Abuse serve to reduce the administrative burden and costs of small and medium-sized enterprises. This change in attitudes and behaviour dates “Since its implementation on July 7, 2009, back to the introduction of the Environmental the Environmental Levy Scheme on Plastic This approach is also adopted under similar Levy Scheme on Plastic Shopping Bags in Shopping Bags has received good support from schemes operating in Taiwan and in the Main- 2009 when registered retailers with some 3,100 citizens and relevant retailers, and achieved land. outlets in total began charging 50 cents for each remarkable results. It is time to fully extend plastic shopping bag (PSB) they handed out to the scheme to further reduce the use of plastic Members of the public could submit their customers. bags to stop people from abusing their usage,” views on the consultation document to the En- said Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward vironmental Protection Department by post, Since then the number of PSBs distributed Yau. email or facsimile by August 16. by these retailers has fallen by about 90%, representing a major step forward in the terri- The consultation document recommends “Hong Kong is facing an imminent and seri- tory’s efforts to reduce the indiscriminate use to widen the scope of the scheme to cover all ous waste problem. I call on citizens and retail- of plastic shopping bags and encourage waste 60,000 retail outlets in Hong Kong, and ban re- ers to support this meaningful waste-reduction reduction at source. tailers from distributing PSBs for free, except measure. Let us save money, and save the envi- for those which are directly and solely used for ronment together,” Mr Yau said. About HK$25.5 million in levies was col- carrying fresh food for food hygiene purposes. lected under the levy scheme in the first year of The levy scheme is the first statutory pro- its implementation, which was far less than the Except for those needed for food hygiene ducer responsibility scheme implemented un- HK$200 million originally estimated, indicat- reasons, “flat-top” bags (i.e. bags without han- der the Product Eco-responsibility Ordinance. ing that the scheme has implemented success- dles) would also be brought under the defini- fully with broad-based community support. tion of PSBs and included in the scheme. In January this year, the Government an- nounced its comprehensive and complete strat- In view of these positive results, the Envi- The current levy of 50 cents per bag would egy and updated action plan to tackle the waste ronmental Protection Department issued a pub- be maintained as an economic disincentive to problem in Hong Kong using a multi-pronged lic consultation document on May 17 on the encourage shoppers to bring their own bag. approach. The extension of the levy scheme is Extension of the Environmental Levy Scheme one of several important initiatives to encour- on Plastic Shopping Bags. age waste reduction at source. Green Knowledge At present, Hong Kong people each dispose more than 1.7 plastic shopping bags per day. p3 GREEN EVENT Green Hong Kong June 2010 Issue More than 4,500 buildings funded by Energy Efficiency Scheme Energy Efficiency Projects encourage existing building owners to carry out alterations or improvement works to upgrade the energy efficiency performance of installations for communal use. T o address the challenges of climate overwhelming, according to the Environment covered include lighting, electrical, air-condi- change, the Environment and Conservation Bureau. tioning and lift and escalator installations. Es- Fund allocated HK$450 million to set up the timated energy saving of some installations is Buildings Energy Efficiency Funding Schemes Up till May 31, 2011, there were 1,375 ap- listed in the table below: (BEEFS). Since its launch in 2009, the scheme plications from the owners of over 9,000 build- has been delivering good results.