The Environment | 305
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 (including conservation zonings) and controls developments throughout Hong Kong. The Drainage Services Department designs, builds, operates and maintains sewerage and sewage treatment facilities. The Civil Engineering and Development Department provides outlets for the reuse 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 2004-05 was budgeted at $6.09 billion, or about 2.13 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 and industrial, commercial and domestic sources, once a serious threat to the environment, are now kept under control through enforcement and implementation of various environmental programmes. 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 to work in partnership with the private sector 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