THE ENVIRONMENT
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assessment process, which sets out clear, consistent technical guidelines and criteria. It will come into effect in early 1998.
Environmental Monitoring and Audit
It needs great vigilance to ensure a project's environmental performance reaches the goals that impact assessments set. In 1992 the EPD set up a monitoring and audit team, and subsequently Environmental Project Offices in West Kowloon and in Kwai Tsing, to tackle environmental problems with the Airport Core Projects in these
areas.
Monitoring and audit have now become an integral part of the EIA process. Often they extend beyond the construction of a project into its operation. Hong Kong's environmental monitoring and audit activities have been highly rated by international peer review. The department has published a revised Environmental Monitoring and Audit Manual to provide general guidance. In 1997, the department managed about 89 monitoring and audit programmes for major projects, including the Airport Core Projects.
Land Use Planning
A strategic environmental assessment for the Territorial Development Strategy Review was completed in 1996 and presented to the Advisory Council on the Environment. The findings of the study generated some public concern. In 1997 the Planning Department began further studies of some strategic growth areas identified in the review. An environmental impact assessment, included in each of these further studies, will identify major issues and solutions, thereby integrating environmental matters into more detailed land use plans. The other outstanding Hong Kong-wide issues would be taken up by the Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st century.
Environmental Sustainability
The assessment of the territorial development strategy showed that continuing urbanisation would be likely to aggravate air and water quality, intensify exposure to noise and overloads waste disposal capacity. Timely provision of resources and environmental care could resolve some of these issues, while others may require policy initiatives and thorough consideration of the long term sustainability of the proposals. A Study on Sustainable Development for the 21st Century began in September 1997. It will take about 30 months, and will produce a sustainable development system to integrate environmental, economic and social policies. At the same time, in line with an international trend, the government will promote a green approach in corporate management with environmental management systems such as ISO 14000.
Cross-Boundary Liaison on EIA and Environmental Planning
Environmental pollution transcends administrative boundaries. The environmental quality in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can both affect and be affected by that of its neighbours in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and Guangdong. Hong Kong and Guangdong have worked together on environmental matters for more than 15 years. The Hong Kong Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group was set up in 1990 to facilitate exchanges on environmental issues of mutual concern.