ENG-2009 — Page 351

The Environment 1 283

Monitoring and Investigation

Assessing the progress made in achieving policy goals is one of the EPD's key activities. The results gained from routine monitoring and special investigations form the basis for much of the department's strategic planning, provision of facilities and statutory controls. The department has 94 sampling stations in marine waters including enclosed bays and typhoon shelters, and another 82 stations for inland waters. It also monitors 41 bathing beaches.

The water quality monitoring programme provides a comprehensive record of the physiochemical and microbiological condition of Hong Kong waters. Annual reports of monitoring data are available on the EPD's website. Water quality of the major marine and river stations is published monthly on the website and gradings of water quality of bathing beaches are published weekly in the media and updated daily on the department's website.

Sustainable Development

The Council for Sustainable Development was appointed by the Chief Executive in March 2003 to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong. The council has so far addressed five key sustainability issues solid waste management, renewable energy, urban living space, population policy and better air quality since launching its first public engagement exercise to consult stakeholders in 2004.

The council conducted a new round of public engagement, entitled 'Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment', in June 2009. Various sectors of the community were engaged in dialogues on enhancement of sustainable building design; provision of essential, green and amenity features in buildings and gross floor area concessions; and building design on energy efficiency. The council is now consolidating the public views and will provide its recommendations to the

Government.

Since 2003 the council had invited seven rounds of applications from organisations and individuals for grants from the Sustainable Development Fund to carry out work related to sustainable development. Thirty-three projects were approved in the first six rounds, involving grants of $29.7 million, and 19 of them have been completed so far.

To facilitate the integration of sustainability considerations in the decision- making process, since 2002 the Government has adopted a sustainability assessment system, the implementation of which is overseen by the Sustainable Development Division. All bureaux and departments are required to conduct sustainability assessments of their major initiatives and programmes and to explain the 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 2009, it