ENG-2007 — Page 321

The Environment 269

Cross-boundary Cooperation

Because environmental pollution transcends administrative boundaries, Hong Kong and Guangdong have been working together on environmental matters for over 20 years. To strengthen this collaboration further, a Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection was set up in 2000. In December 2007, the group held its eighth meeting to review progress and to discuss the plans for 2008.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government have drawn up a Regional Air Quality Management Plan (the Management Plan) that aims to reduce pollutant emissions in the region by 20 per cent to 55 per cent by 2010, taking 1997 as the base year. Since November 2005, a regional air quality monitoring network, comprising 16 monitoring stations, has been publishing the Regional Air Quality Index. Both sides announced in January 2007 the implementation framework of an Emissions Trading Pilot Scheme. for Thermal Power Plants in the PRD and completed the Mid-term Review of the Management Plan in December 2007.

Both sides also signed in August 2007 an 'Agreement on Cooperation to Promote Energy Efficiency, Cleaner Production and Comprehensive Utilisation of Resources to Enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong'. The purpose of the agreement is to encourage and facilitate more than 56 000 Hong Kong-owned factories in the PRD region to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices. By improving energy efficiency and reducing emission, the Hong Kong-owned factories can make a positive contribution to improving the region's air quality.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen, meanwhile, are working together on a programme to gradually reduce the water pollution loads in Deep Bay. At the end of 2007, both sides completed a review of the joint programme and agreed on further pollution load reduction and water quality improvement targets for Deep Bay. A water quality model for the Pearl River estuary, developed jointly by Hong Kong and Guangdong, was completed in mid-2007, providing both sides with a scientific tool for devising management plans and strategies to protect water quality in the estuary.

The HKSAR's Environmental Protection Department and the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau signed an 'Agreement on Enhancing Cooperation on Environmental Protection between Hong Kong and Shenzhen' in December 2007 to strengthen cooperation and communication, and enhance the exchange of technology, experience and training.

Climate Change

Climate change has become one of the most important challenges to the international community. The HKSAR Government is doing its best to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking vigorous measures, primarily aiming at enhancing energy efficiency and promoting energy conservation to achieve sustainable development.