The Environment 267
management, auditing and reporting. It also promotes environmental awareness in the community.
The EPD 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 non-governmental environmental organisations, business groups, academic institutions and professional bodies.
The Energy Division of the Environment Bureau oversees Hong Kong's energy policy with a view to providing reliable supplies of energy at reasonable prices, promoting its economical and safe use, and at the same time minimising the environmental impact from energy usage and production.
The Sustainable Development Division, now established under the Environment Bureau, promotes sustainable development in both the Government and the community, and provides secretariat support to the Council for Sustainable Development.
Government spending on the environment in 2007-08 was budgeted at $6.29 billion, or about 2.35 per cent of total public expenditure.
Pollution Prevention
The Government has been successful in tackling environmental problems by applying an environmental assessment process to policy planning and project proposals. Development and policy proposals submitted to the Executive Council that involve environmental issues and all submissions to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee must contain an assessment of the environmental implications.
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance provides a transparent and systematic framework for assessing the environmental impact of designated projects and for identifying effective mitigating measures if needed. It is supplemented by a technical memorandum setting out clear and consistent technical guidelines and criteria. Since the implementation of the ordinance, 113 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports have been approved (as at December 31) and more than 1.5 million people and many ecologically sensitive areas are being protected against the effects of unacceptable environmental problems. In addition, the EPD has been promoting continuous public participation in the EIA process.
Environmental Monitoring and Auditing
The environmental monitoring and auditing process seeks to validate the assumptions made in the planning stage of development projects and monitors the effectiveness of mitigation measures to ensure every project meets the environmental performance promised in the impact assessments. In 2007, the EPD handled about 115 monitoring and auditing programmes for major projects.
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