ENG-2007 — Page 333

The Environment | 281

to sustainable development. Eighteen projects were approved in the first four rounds, involving grants of $14.5 million, 12 of them have been completed so far.

One of the Sustainable Development Division's major tasks is to oversee the implementation of a sustainability assessment system adopted by the Government to facilitate the integration of sustainability considerations in the decision-making process. All bureaux and departments are required to conduct sustainability assessments of their major initiatives and programmes and to explain the sustainability implications in their submissions to the Policy Committee and Executive Council.

Government Laboratory

The Government Laboratory supports the enforcement of environmental protection legislation and the implementation of various environmental programmes through the provision of comprehensive analytical and advisory services. In 2007, it conducted numerous tests on environmental samples of air, water, sediment, soil, biota and waste, and other substances, providing useful data for various environmental programmes such as the toxic air pollutants monitoring programme, the river and marine water monitoring programmes, the biological monitoring programme, the toxic substances monitoring programme and illegal discharges investigations. The laboratory's commitment to protecting the environment is further exemplified by the round-the-clock support given to other departments in handling emergency situations such as chemical spills and suspected noxious and irritating gas leaks.

Flora

Hong Kong is situated near the northern boundary of the distribution of tropical Southeast Asian flora, sharing similar species and structure with the flora of Guangdong province. Despite its small size, Hong Kong has a rich flora with about 3 100 species of vascular plants, among which 2 100 are native to Hong Kong. Continual efforts in afforestation coupled with various conservation measures have transformed formerly bare hillsides and slopes into impressive woodlands. Besides greening and beautifying the countryside, woodlands are important habitats for wildlife and are essential to protecting water catchments from soil erosion. They also provide recreational opportunities for the public.

Remnants of the original forest cover, either scrub forest or well-developed woodlands, are still found in steep ravines or behind traditional villages in rural areas. They have survived as a result of their location in precipitous topography and the moist winter micro-climate, or because they are protected for cultural reasons.

Terrestrial Fauna

Hong Kong's climate and physical environment provide a wide range of habitats and support for a rich and varied fauna which include about 480 species of birds, 56 species of mammals, over 100 species of amphibians and reptiles, 230 species of butterflies and 110 species of dragonflies.

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