ENG-2005 — Page 338

292 The Environment

transport certain dangerous goods. In addition, the EPD has been promoting continuous public involvement in the EIA process.

Environmental Monitoring and Auditing

Environmental monitoring and auditing is an integral part of the assessment process because such checks validate the assumptions made in the planning stage, monitor the effectiveness of mitigation measures and ensure that every project delivers the environmental performance promised in the impact assessments. In 2005, the EPD managed about 120 monitoring and auditing programmes for major projects.

For the past five years, the EPD has been promoting reporting on environmental monitoring and auditing through the Internet. For major projects, permit holders are required to set up dedicated websites to publish project information, including environmental monitoring and auditing data and results, in a user-friendly format. Since April 2002, major projects have been required to set up web camera systems to make the site conditions visible to the public. Such web-based reporting provides easier access to information on environmental performance and enhances public participation in monitoring the implementation of environmental measures arising from the application of the environmental impact assessment process.

Land Use Planning

Environmental concerns are incorporated into land use planning through the application of the environmental assessment process and the adoption of the environmental planning standards and guidelines. For major land use planning studies, a Strategic Environmental Assessment is required to integrate environmental considerations into the formulation of land use plans. Under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, an environmental impact assessment must be carried out as part of the engineering feasibility study of urban development or redevelopment projects with a study area covering more than 20 hectares or involving a population of more than 100 000. These environmental assessments form an integral part of the planning studies and help identify major environmental issues and possible mitigation measures for integration into the land use plans.

Environmental Sustainability

The issue of environmental sustainability is being examined in the new review of the Territorial Development Strategy (called Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy), which began in September 2000. Within this Hong Kong 2030 study, there is a strategic environmental assessment study being conducted to address the long- term environmental sustainability issues and the public are engaged continuously throughout the study process.

Environmental Management

The Government promotes environmental management in both the public and private sectors, including the Green Manager Scheme, environmental auditing, environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental performance reporting. All bureaux and departments have appointed Green Managers, most have