Hong Kong Annual Report 1999

The past decade has seen many achievements in Hong Kong's efforts to pre-empt environmental problems through the application of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process to policy, planning and project proposals. Major development and policy proposals submitted to the Executive Council and all submissions to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee must contain an assessment of the environmental implications.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance came into effect on April 1, 1998, to formalise and strengthen the existing EIA arrangements. It provides a systematic, clear and transparent framework for assessing the environmental impacts arising from major development projects and for implementing effective prevention and mitigation measures. It is supplemented by a technical memorandum setting out clear, consistent technical guidelines and criteria. Information on applications made under the EIA Ordinance is available at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/eia.

Environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) has become an integral part of the EIA process to validate the assumptions made in the planning stage and to monitor the effectiveness of prescribed mitigation measures during project implementation. This is to ensure that every project delivers the environmental performance promised in the impact assessments. In 1999, the EPD managed about 109 EM&A programmes for major projects. In late 1998, a pilot scheme on electronic EM&A reporting was commissioned. Early results suggest that it helps to enhance efficiency and shorten the response time of the EM&A process.

The EIA process extends into land use planning. The Advisory Council on the Environment considered the results of a strategic environmental assessment of the Territorial Development Strategy Review in 1996. In 1997, the Planning Department began further studies of some strategic growth areas that the review identified. Some studies completed EIAs in 1999, identifying major environmental issues and solutions for integration into more detailed land use plans.

The assessment of the Territorial Development Strategy showed that continuing urbanisation would be likely to have implications on air and water quality, increase public exposure to noise and overload Hong Kong's waste disposal capacity. While the timely provision of resources and environmental mitigation measures could resolve some of these issues, others may require fundamental reconsideration of the proposals' implications on Hong Kong's long-term sustainability. A Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century began in September 1997. The report, to be produced in early 2000, will recommend how best to deliver a sustainable development system which will integrate environmental, economic and social considerations in the decision-making progress on government policies.

To set a good example for the private sector, the Government established a Green Manager Scheme in 1992 to implement a programme of green housekeeping measures within departments including waste minimisation, waste recovery and energy conservation. More recently, the Government has promoted more widespread adoption of environmental auditing¹, environmental management systems² (EMS) and environmental reporting in the public and private sectors. From the 1999-2000 financial year, all government bureaux and departments will have to publish annual Controlling Officer's Environmental Reports.

Environmental pollution transcends administrative boundaries. Hong Kong and Guangdong have worked together on environmental matters for more than 16 years. The Hong Kong Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group (EPLG) was set up in 1990 to deal with environmental problems of mutual concern. The level of co-operation has intensified recently as a result of both the constitutional change and growing concern about the environment on both sides of the boundary. To better co-ordinate the efforts of both sides, a Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection will be set up in 2000.

Under the EPLG, joint studies on environmental management and protection of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay were conducted and action plans formulated. The action plans were endorsed by the Hong Kong Guangdong-Cooperation Joint Conference in September 1998. Half-yearly audits have been carried out to check compliance with the plans. Based on the Deep Bay regional control strategy study completed in 1998, the EPLG has looked into further control measures for the Deep Bay catchment. A joint study on air quality problems in the Pearl River Delta region has commenced for completion by 2001. Expert groups have also been set up to study the protection of Chinese White Dolphins and fisheries resources. Seminars were organised by the EPLG in September 1998 and July 1999 to promote discussion and sharing of experience in waste management and marine dredging/dumping respectively.

The Government is committed to improving the quality of life in rural areas and to ending or removing land uses that degrade the rural environment. Village sewage disposal has also improved in the rural areas of the New Territories.

A task force to clean up environmentally degraded areas in the New Territories was set up in 1994. Its initial focus was on the Pat Heung and Ha Tsuen areas, paying particular attention to black spots associated with container operations. More recently it has helped co-ordinate clean-up operations of illegally dumped construction waste.

Installations such as explosive depots and chemical stores, and dangerous goods transport routes may pose a risk to nearby residents. Hong Kong has had no major disasters but global experience of large-scale accidents highlights the need for risk management.

The Government has completed risk assessments on all potentially hazardous installations in Hong Kong. It has completed or is implementing all its plans for risk reduction and has substantially reduced the risk to the public.

1 a management tool which comprises a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of the environmental impact of an organisation's operation and any action it has undertaken to mitigate the impact.

2 EMS is part of the overall management system for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the environmental policy of an organisation.