Chapter 15
The Environment
The government's priorities in enhancing the quality of the environment include improving air quality, implementing a waste-to-resources and waste-to-energy management strategy, improving harbour water quality, promoting energy efficiency and conservation, and combating climate change
Hong Kong, with only 1,106 square kilometres of land, is home to some seven million people. More than 500 sq km of land is designated as protected areas, including country parks, special areas and conservation zones. But the city is also one of the world's largest trading economies. Inevitably, the heavy concentration of people and activities in a small area strains the environment, including the air quality. The impact of air pollution in the Pearl River Delta region also needs to be addressed.
Environmental protection is a major priority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. Improving air quality and the water quality of Victoria Harbour, managing municipal solid waste better through sustainable use of resources, promoting energy efficiency and strengthening regional cooperation are important for improving the quality of life and are government priorities.
Government spending on the environment in 2019-20 was budgeted at $22 billion, or about 3.4 per cent of total public expenditure.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), under the Environment Bureau, has overall responsibility for protecting the environment, including nature conservation. It executes environmental policies; vets environmental planning and assessment studies; enforces and reviews environmental laws; plans and develops facilities for waste disposal; promotes environmental management, auditing and reporting; and raises environmental awareness in the community.
The 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.
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