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The Environment

The Environment Bureau's Energy Division 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 bureau's Sustainable Development Division 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 2012-13 was budgeted at $13.9 billion, or about 3.3 per cent of total public expenditure.

Pollution Prevention

The Government applies 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 assessments of environmental implications.

Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance provides a transparent and systematic framework for assessing the environmental impact of designated projects and for identifying mitigating measures if needed. The EPD also promotes continuous public participation in the EIA process. As at 31 December, 168 EIA reports had been approved since the ordinance was implemented.

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 EIA. In 2012, the EPD handled 110 monitoring and auditing programmes for major projects. These projects are required to set up dedicated websites to publish the results and data obtained from the environmental monitoring and auditing process.

Land Use Planning

For major land use planning studies, strategic environmental assessments are required to incorporate environmental considerations into the formulation of land use plans. Under the EIA Ordinance, an EIA must be carried out as part of the engineering feasibility study of urban development or redevelopment projects with a study area of more than 20 hectares or involving a population of more than 100,000 people. These environmental assessments are integral parts of the planning studies and help identify major environmental issues and possible mitigation measures for inclusion in the land use plans.

Environmental Management and Sustainability

The Government promotes environmental management in both the public and private sectors through the Green Manager Scheme, environmental auditing, environmental management systems and environmental performance reporting. All bureaux and departments have

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