ENG-2011 — Page 330

286 The Environment

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 18 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 to provide reliable supplies of energy at reasonable prices and promote their economical and safe use while minimising the environmental impact of 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 2011-12 was budgeted at $12.8 billion, or about 3.3 per cent of total public expenditure.

Pollution Prevention

The Government has successfully applied 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 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, 162 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports were approved up to December 31. In addition, the EPD promotes 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 2011, the EPD handled 110 monitoring and auditing programmes for major projects.

For these projects, permit holders are required to set up dedicated websites to publish the results and data obtained from the environmental monitoring and auditing process. Since 2002, proponents of major projects have been required to set up web camera systems to enable the public to see conditions at their sites.

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