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The Environment

materials and minimise their disposal at landfills, a disposal charging scheme provides an economic incentive for reducing construction waste. The government continues to deliver surplus inert materials to the Mainland for reuse in reclamation projects there.

Marine Refuse

Clearing marine refuse, including refuse that has been washed ashore, involves the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department; the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; and the Marine Department. Some of the work is outsourced to service providers. The Marine Department deploys a fleet of about 70 contractors' vessels to collect floating refuse and refuse from vessels. Nearly 15,632 tonnes of waste from the marine waters and coastal areas of Hong Kong and 4,337 tonnes of refuse from vessels were collected in 2015. In addition to law enforcement, the government uses publicity and education to tackle the problem.

In November 2012, the government set up an inter-departmental working group on Clean Shorelines to identify the sources of marine refuse, review existing measures, formulate strategic policies to prevent and reduce marine refuse, and promote public awareness of the need to keep Hong Kong's shorelines clean. The EPD completed a Marine Refuse Study and published a report in April 2015. In the light of the study findings, departments in the working group are implementing enhanced measures to improve shoreline cleanliness. The EPD also organised monthly Shorelines Cleanup Days with community groups at different locations starting from April 2015. The theme of the campaigns remained 'Protect our coast, Leave no trace, to emphasise the importance of reducing marine refuse.

Livestock Waste

The Waste Disposal Ordinance bans the keeping of livestock in new towns and environmentally sensitive areas. Where they are allowed, livestock farms must have proper waste treatment systems. The government provides a free livestock waste collection service, which collected about 22,200 tonnes of waste in 2015.

From the environmental protection perspective, livestock farming in urbanised Hong Kong is not sustainable. The government introduced voluntary licence-surrender schemes in 2005 and 2006 to encourage poultry and pig farmers respectively to cease livestock farming permanently in return for ex gratia payments. The schemes have decreased the number of farms and reduced pollution of the environment. The number of poultry farms has been further reduced by a buyout scheme launched in 2008.

Sewage Treatment and Disposal

Victoria Harbour and Harbour Area Treatment Scheme

The public sewerage system serves 93 per cent of the population and collects about 2.8 million cubic metres of waste water daily. About 75 per cent of the collected sewage receives chemical or higher levels of treatment before being discharged.

The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 1 collects sewage from the urban areas of Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Tseung Kwan O and the northeastern part of Hong Kong Island, and

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