ENG-2000 — Page 334

THE ENVIRONMENT

282

Environmental Management

The Government has been promoting environmental management in both the public and private sectors since 1992. A number of initiatives have been introduced, including the Green Manager Scheme, the adoption of environmental auditing, the environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental reporting. The Government leads by example, and all bureaux and departments have appointed their Green Managers; most of them have regular environmental audit programmes; and some have been certified to ISO14001 standard. Starting from 2000, all bureaux and departments are required to publish annual environmental reports on the environmental performance in their policy areas. There are encouraging achievements in the private sectors. The number of local private corporations being certified to ISO14001 and reporting on their environmental performance is increasing steadily.

Cross-Boundary Liaison on EIA and Environmental Planning

Environmental pollution transcends administrative boundaries. .Hong Kong and Guangdong have worked together on environmental matters for more than 17 years. In order to enhance the collaboration, a Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection was set up in 2000. A number of panels were formed under the Joint Working Group to examine specific environmental issues over which co-operation could be enhanced.

On the transboundary air issue, a joint study on air quality problems in the Pearl River Delta region has commenced for completion by the first quarter of 2001. On the water quality front, based on the Deep Bay regional control strategy study completed in 1998, a joint implementation plan was drawn up in 1999 for both Hong Kong and Shenzhen to reduce pollution load to acceptable levels within the next 15 years. A similar two-year control strategy study for Mirs Bay was started in mid- 2000. The two sides are also working in collaboration to improve the water quality of the Dongjiang (East River) and in protecting Chinese White Dolphins and fisheries

resources.

Rural Developments

The Government is committed to improving the quality of life in rural areas and to ending or removing land uses that degrade the rural environment. Village sewage disposal has also improved in the rural areas of the New Territories.

Potentially Hazardous Installations

Installations such as explosives depots and chemical stores may pose a risk to nearby residents. Hong Kong has had no major disasters but global experience of large-scale accidents highlights the need for risk management.

The Government has completed risk assessments of all potentially hazardous installations in Hong Kong. It has completed or is implementing all its plans for risk reduction and has substantially reduced the risk to the public.

Legislation and Pollution Control

Hong Kong has seven main laws to control pollution. They are the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the Noise Control Ordinance, the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance, the Dumping at Sea Ordinance and the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.