The Environment | 293
including enclosed bays and typhoon shelters, and another 82 stations for inland waters. It also monitors 41 bathing beaches.
The water quality monitoring programme provides a comprehensive record of the physiochemical and microbiological condition of Hong Kong waters. Annual reports of monitoring data are available on the EPD's website. Water quality of the major marine and river stations is published monthly on the website and gradings of water quality at bathing beaches are published weekly in the media and updated daily on the department's website.
Sustainable Development
The Council for Sustainable Development was appointed by the Chief Executive in March 2003 to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong. The council has so far addressed six key sustainability issues solid waste management, renewable energy, urban living space, population policy, better air quality and building design. to foster a quality and sustainable built environment since launching its first public engagement exercise to consult stakeholders in 2004. The council is now planning the next public engagement on climate change-related issues to be launched in early 2011.
Since 2003 the council has invited eight rounds of applications from organisations and individuals for grants from the Sustainable Development Fund to carry out work related to sustainable development. Thirty-eight projects were approved in the first seven rounds, involving grants of $35 million, and 26 of them have been completed so far.
To facilitate the integration of sustainability considerations in the decision. making process, in 2002 the Government has adopted a sustainability assessment system, the implementation of which is overseen by the Sustainable Development Division. All bureaux and departments are required to conduct sustainability assessments of their major initiatives and programmes and to explain the implications in their submissions to the Policy Committee and Executive Council.
Government Laboratory
The Government Laboratory supports the enforcement of environmental protection legislation and the implementation of various environmental programmes through the provision of comprehensive analytical and advisory services. In 2010, it conducted numerous tests on environmental samples of air, water, sediment, soil, biota, waste, motor vehicle fuel including biodiesel and other substances, providing a large volume of useful data for various environmental programmes. In 2011, it will continue with the provision of this comprehensive analytical and advisory service. It will also continue to develop new test methods targeting additional groups of chemicals that have come under the control of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.