THE ENVIRONMENT
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) executes environmental policies. and programmes, vets environmental planning and assessment findings, enforces and reviews environmental laws, plans and develops facilities for liquid and solid waste disposal and promotes environmental management, audit and reporting. The EPD also promotes environmental awareness in the community.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is the main agency for nature and wildlife conservation. It manages country parks, special areas, marine parks and a marine reserve, which are designated by the Chief Executive in Council for nature conservation, recreation and education purposes. The department also identifies and protects ecologically important areas by other means, enforces the law to protect wildlife and plants, and examines ecological aspects of environmental impact assessment reports and planning studies. It promotes public awareness of nature conservation.
The Planning Department plans future land use and controls developments throughout Hong Kong. The Drainage Services Department, assisted by the Territory Development Department, designs, builds, operates and maintains sewerage and sewage treatment facilities. The Civil Engineering Department provides outlets for the re-use of inert construction and demolition material. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department promotes energy efficiency and conservation. The Marine Department clears floating refuse and oil in the sea and enforces the law on oil pollution.
Government spending on the environment in 2003-04 was budgeted at $6.13 billion, or about 2.14 per cent of total public expenditure.
Environmental Challenges
Hong Kong's older urban areas present considerable environmental challenges. These areas, partly being redeveloped, consist of dense housing mixed with commerce and industry and an infrastructure that needs continuous upgrading so as to meet development needs and rising public expectations. Factors such as scarce habitable. land, concentrated transport networks and immense housing demand mean noise. from road and rail traffic remains a problem despite improvement and control measures. Construction noise is also a concern for residents living near development sites.
Unplanned discharges from livestock farming, industrial, commercial and domestic sources had once been a serious threat to the environment. These are now kept under control through enforcement and implementation of various environmental programmes since the late 1980s. The pollution load on major rivers has been significantly reduced, by about 90 per cent. However, owing to the low base flow rate of these rivers and the remaining pollution load, further improvement work is still necessary.
The Government's pollution control strategy aims not to compromise industry and commerce, but work in partnership with the private sector firms in ensuring environmental compliance so that all may benefit from a better environment. Direct economic benefits can often be gained from activities such as recycling and the adoption of environmentally friendly technology. These methods are better than pollution control techniques that have to apply after a waste material has become a potential pollutant.
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