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The Environment

The Sustainable Development Division promotes sustainable development in the government and the community. All bureaus and departments must conduct sustainability assessments of their major initiatives and present the implications to the Policy Committee and Executive Council.

This division also renders secretariat support to the Council for Sustainable Development, which is appointed by the Chief Executive to promote sustainable development in Hong Kong. It also administers the Sustainable Development Fund, which provides grants for projects that enhance public awareness of sustainable development and encourage sustainable practices. Since 2003, 74 projects have been approved and 67 of those completed, involving grants totalling about $76 million.

The EPD works with the government-appointed Environmental Campaign Committee to encourage the public's contribution to a better environment through campaigns and community programmes. The department's environmental resource and education centres provide the public with easy access to environmental information. The government's Environment and Conservation Fund promotes behavioural and lifestyle changes by supporting educational, research and other projects by non-profit-making organisations about the environment and conservation.

Cross-boundary Cooperation

Hong Kong works with Guangdong and Macao on environmental matters. The HKSAR and Guangdong governments have been implementing various measures to meet the 2020 reduction targets for regional air pollutant emissions. Both governments are considering post-2020 reduction targets and concentration levels, and collaborating on forecasting air quality

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network. comprises 23 air monitoring stations. Results from the network showed substantial reductions in most pollutants in recent years. From 2010 to 2019, the average annual concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and respirable suspended particulates (RSP) decreased 70 per cent, 23 per cent and 29 per cent respectively. The concentration of fine suspended particulates (FSP) has decreased 14 per cent since the pollutant was first monitored in 2015. The ozone level increased 22 per cent over the past 10 years, indicating regional photochemical pollution must be reduced.

The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme helps Hong Kong-owned factories in Hong Kong and Guangdong adopt cleaner production technologies and practices. The programme has been extended for five years up to March 2025.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen are implementing joint action programmes to protect the quality of adjoining waters. The water quality in Deep Bay has shown noticeable improvement, while that in Mirs Bay has remained consistently good. Hong Kong and Guangdong are also pursuing a joint water quality management plan to protect the water quality of the Pearl River Estuary.

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