- 52
-
Manufacturers being helped to cope with environmental laws
Following is a question by the Hon Man Sai-cheong and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Trade and Industry, Mrs Regina Ip, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
The growing global trend of environmental concern is causing a major impact on the local industry, 80% of which are small and medium-sized firms. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :
(a)
(b)
(c)
હ
(d)
what measures the Government has taken to assist and guide the industry sector to comply with the local environmental legislation including the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Water Pollution Control Ordinance, and Noise Control Ordinance;
what role does the Industry Department play in helping the local industry to become more environmentally conscious in line with the global trend;
what specific measures the Government has taken to implement the Immediate Action Plan set out in the Support to Industry on Environmental Matters Report; and to what extent these measures have succeeded in helping the local industrialists; and
what plan the Government will make to support the local industry in environmental matters in order to enable the local industry to maintain its competitive position in the Region?
Answer
The Government aims to help small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) to cope with the impact of environmental controls in two ways: by increasing awareness of the benefits to manufacturers of good environmental practice in general, and how pollution control legislation may affect them in particular; and by ensuring the provision of adequate technical services. The Industry Department is responsible for coordinating these efforts.