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Chapter 14

The Environment

The Government's pollution control strategy aims not to compromise industry and commerce, but to work in partnership with the private sector so that all may benefit from a better environment. Direct economic benefits can often be gained from activities such as recycling and the adoption of environmentally friendly technology. These methods are better than pollution control techniques applied after waste material has become a potential pollutant.

Hong Kong's 1 104 square kilometres of land contain 6.9 million people and one of the world's largest trading economies. Steep mountains and strong planning controls have led to most of the population being housed in 225 square kilometres of urban development, while over 400 square kilometres have been designated as 'protected areas' including country parks, special areas and conservation zonings. The concentration of population and economic activities in such a small area leads to intense pressures on the environment. This is compounded by the effects, particularly on air quality, from development across the Pearl River Delta region.

The Chief Executive announced in his 1999 annual address a major programme to improve the quality of Hong Kong's environment, covering air pollution control measures, improvement in water quality, reform of waste management, strengthening of conservation, greening of the urban environment and development of regional pollution control mechanisms with Guangdong Province. On July 1, 2002, a new policy bureau, the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, was established to continue the momentum of this programme.

Administrative Framework

The Environment, Transport and Works Bureau has overall policy responsibility for the environment, among other matters. It 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 (NGOs), business groups, academic institutions and professional institutions.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) executes environmental policies and programmes, vets environmental planning and assessment findings, enforces and