The Government has adopted a three-pronged strategy - reducing waste generation at source, reducing the amount of refuse entering the marine environment, and removing refuse from the marine environment. The Government has implemented various measures for improving the cleanliness of our waters and shorelines.
In order to focus the discussion and handling of marine refuse and marine environmental incidents and to strengthen the inter-departmental cooperation, in January 2018, the Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines set up in November 2012 was revamped and renamed as Inter-departmental Working Group on Marine Environmental Management (the Working Group) with two task forces set up under it, namely the Task Force on Marine Refuse and Task Force on Emergency Response to Marine Environmental Incidents.
The terms of reference and membership of the Working Group are as follows:
Terms of Reference
- Review and update strategies on a regular basis through the work of the Task Force on Marine Refuse, and the Task Force on Emergency Response to Marine Environmental Incidents to continuously enhance the Government’s efforts on marine environmental management, including the work on tackling marine refuse problem, strengthening its capability and preparedness on emergency response to marine environmental incidents arising from and in connection with various pollution sources;
- Consider the existing and planned work programmes of the above two Task Forces and monitor their implementation progress on a regular basis; and
- Foster cross-boundary collaboration with Guangdong authorities on various marine environmental issues.
Membership
Chairman
Deputy Director of Environmental Protection (1)
Membership
Representatives at directorate level from:
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
- Drainage Services Department
- Environmental Protection Department
- Fire Services Department
- Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
- Home Affairs Department
- Hong Kong Observatory
- Leisure and Cultural Services Department
- Marine Department