THE ENVIRONMENT
available at the EPD's home page. Members of the public are usually more interested in the latest water quality of bathing beaches, details of which are issued to the mass media and published in the department's home page every week during the bathing
season.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory provides centralised analytical and advisory services to government departments, supporting them in the management and monitoring of the environment and in the enforcement of environmental protection legislation. This requires laboratory analysis of samples taken from air, water, sediment, biota and trade effluents for a wide range of pollutants. In 2002, a total of 286 999 tests were conducted, compared with 294 194 the previous year. The total included 1 884 tests that were carried out for litigation purposes, representing an increase of 6.5 per cent on 2001.
The Laboratory also provides technical support to the Environmental Radiation Monitoring Programme, the Daya Bay Contingency Plan and departments overseeing environmental projects. A round-the-clock, on-site support service is provided to the relevant authorities for handling of emergencies involving chemicals spills or suspected emission of noxious and irritating gases.
In addition to the monitoring and statutory work, the Laboratory is engaged in method development work and research projects. A notable project in 2002 involved the collection and characterisation of ultra-fine particulate matters that are recognised to be the major cause of poor visibility and adverse health effects. The investigation has led to the publication of several scientific papers in international journals.
Apart from local commitments, the Laboratory participates in the cooperation between the EPD and the Mainland's State Oceanic Administration (SOA), including the marine monitoring method validation exercise coordinated by the EPD, and the annual national inter-laboratory calibration work of the SOA. A total of 886 tests on marine environmental samples were conducted in 2002. This involvement has strengthened cross-boundary cooperation in marine monitoring.
Flora
Hong Kong is near the northern limit of the distribution of tropical South-East Asian flora, sharing similar species and structure with the flora of Guangdong Province. Despite its small size, Hong Kong has a rich flora with about 3 100 species of vascular plants. Various conservation measures have transformed the formerly bare hillsides and slopes into areas with trees. Besides greening and beautifying the countryside, woodlands are important habitats for wildlife and are essential for protecting water catchments from soil erosion. They also provide recreational opportunities for the public.
Remnants of the original forest cover, either scrub forest or well-developed woodlands, are still found in steep ravines. They have survived destructive human influences and hill fires through their location in precipitous topography and the moist winter micro-climate.
Terrestrial Fauna
Hong Kong's climate and physical environment provides a wide range of habitats and supports a rich and varied fauna. These include about 450 species of birds, 50 species
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