Cleaner Production Partnership Programme Launched
The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme, jointly organised by the Environmental Protection Department, Guangdong Economic and Trade Commission, Hong Kong Productivity Council and business and industrial sectors, was officially launched on 18 April 2008. This five-year programme will provide funding support to Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta region to engage environmental consultants to conduct on-site improvement assessment, which will propose practical solutions to achieve energy saving and emission reduction. Participating factories will receive funding support up to an amount of $15,000. In collaboration with environmental technology firms, factories can also apply for funding to carry out demonstration projects. The amount of funding support for each demonstration project averages $160,000. The programme will also provide independent third-party verification services on the effectiveness of improvement projects implemented by factories. The Hong Kong Productivity Council is the programme's implementation agent. Apart from collaborating with environmental technology service providers in Hong Kong and the Mainland to provide technical support, the Council will also organise a wide range of awareness promotion activities to encourage factories to participate in the programme, and strengthen their awareness and knowledge of cleaner production technologies and practices.
Cleaner production will not only help factories enhance their environmental performance, but also bring about reduction in production costs by cutting material and energy consumption, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and profitability of the factories. Factories interested in joining the programme may download the application forms at: http://www.cleanerproduction.hk/en/main.asp
The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, speaks at the launching ceremony of the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme.
Photo shows the officiating guests (top row from left to right: Mr. Oscar Chow (Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce), Dr. Wai Tze-kong (Chinese General Chamber of Commerce), Ms. Anissa Wong (Permanent Secretary for the Environment), Mr. Andrew Leung (Chairman of Hong Kong Productivity Council), Mr. Edward Yau (Secretary for the Environment), Mr. Li Xiang Ming (Vice Director of Guangdong Economic and Trade Commission), Mr. Wilson Fung (Executive Director of Hong Kong Productivity Council), Mr. Daniel Cheng (Federation of Hong Kong Industries), and Mr. Kwok Chun-wah (Chinese Manufacturers’ Association) ) and representatives from some of the Hong Kong-owned factories which have express interest in joining the Programme.
