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HK-Guangdong Environmental Group meets
The Hong Kong - Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group held its fifth meeting in Hong Kong on December 21-22. Both sides agreed to further their co- operation on environmental issues of common interest.
The Environmental Protection Liaison Group discussed the progress made by its Technical Sub-group in the joint monitoring of environmental quality for Deep Bay and noted that, subject to funding approval by the Finance Committee, Hong Kong wil soon start a water quality modelling study with the support of the Guangdong authorities to help determine a strategy to protect the water quality of Deep Bay. The joint monitoring programme and the modelling study were part of an action plan to protect the environment of Deep Bay and its catchments. The Liaison Group endorsed the action plan in 1992 and the joint monitoring work commenced in 1993. A final report would be prepared after two years' monitoring.
At the meeting, the Guangdong side was also briefed on the proposed establishment of marine parks and marine reserves in Hong Kong and the proposed designation of Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay as a wetland of international importance under the Convention on Wetland of International Importance Especially as Waterfow! Habitat (the RAMSAR Convention).
The Liaison Group agreed that both sides should continue to exchange information on environmental issues that are of mutual interest. These included coordination of transboundary shipment of waste, controls on vehicle fuel and marine dredging and dumping activities for Hong Kong projects, and development of new power stations. For its future plan, the Liaison Group will consider extending the scope of work to cover environmental issues associated with Mirs Bay.
The two-day meeting was co-chaired on the Guangdong side by the Director of Environmental Protection Bureau of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Yinkun, and on the Hong Kong side by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr A G Eason.