ENG-2009 — Page 338

270 The Environment

Regional Air Quality Index and the reports on the monitoring results were released in April and October 2009.

In April 2008, the two sides launched a five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme to encourage and help 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 emissions, Hong Kong owned factories can make a positive contribution to improving the region's air quality. Up to end of December 2009, over 400 funding applications have been approved for conducting technical support projects under the programme. To promote efforts on this front further, the governments of the HKSAR and Guangdong Province jointly launched the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme in August to recognise the achievements of Hong Kong-owned enterprises in pursuing cleaner production.

To strengthen this collaboration further, the two sides signed the Environmental Co-operation Agreement at the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference on August 19. Both sides agreed, among other matters, to undertake a joint study on the post-2010 air emission reduction arrangements for the region. On the water quality front, the two sides will commission a study on regional water quality management for the Pearl River Estuary in 2010, making use of the mathematical model jointly developed by the two sides to assess the environmental capacity of the estuary for meeting various water quality objectives.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen, meanwhile, are jointly implementing action programmes to reduce pollution of the adjoining water bodies, including Deep Bay and Mirs Bay. Both sides are conducting a joint review of the regional water quality management strategy for Mirs Bay. In addition, the EPD will commission a joint study with Guangdong in early 2010 to evaluate the carrying capacity of the water bodies in the Pearl River Estuary. This will provide the two governments with solid scientific bases for devising management plans and strategies for controlling water pollution in the Pearl River Estuary. The two sides are working closely together to encourage the adoption of cleaner production practices by Hong Kong-owned factories in Shenzhen. Both sides will also enhance co-operation in the areas of promoting wider use of clean energy and green transportation. In addition, Hong Kong and Macao agreed to further enhance environmental co-operation in areas like air quality monitoring, waste management and carrying out public awareness activities.

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 adoption of cleaner fuels for power generation, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, making fuller use of waste-to-energy technologies, developing an efficient public transportation system and promoting green lifestyle.