The Environment | 291
The EPD receives professional support from several government departments and advice from the Advisory Council on the Environment, which comprises 15 members appointed by the Chief Executive, including members from environmental non-governmental organisations, business groups, academic institutions and professional institutions.
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. The department also identifies and protects ecologically important areas, 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 zoning) 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 2005-06 was budgeted at $5.49 billion, or about 2.04 per cent of total public expenditure.
Planning to Prevent Pollution
The Government has been successful in pre-empting environmental problems by applying an environmental assessment process to policy, planning and project. proposals. Development and policy proposals submitted to the Executive Council that involve environmental issues and all submissions to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee must contain an assessment of the environmental implications.
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance provides a transparent and systematic framework for assessing the environmental impact of designated projects and, where avoidance is impracticable, identifying effective measures to reduce the impact to an acceptable level. It is supplemented by a technical memorandum setting out clear and consistent technical guidelines and criteria. Information on applications made under the ordinance is available at the EPD's home page. Since the implementation of the ordinance, 93 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports have been approved (as at December 31) and more than 1.5 million people and many ecologically sensitive areas are protected against unacceptable environmental impact as a result of preventive or mitigatory measures adopted in planning and design of developments. Risk assessment is required under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance for designated projects which manufacture, store, use or