Hong Kong Environmental Protection Festival 2002

Hong Kong Environmental Protection Festival 2002

Background

Similar to World Environment Day (WED), EPF is an annual function held by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) in November or December each year.

While WED is conducted in response to an international call by the United Nations, the EPF is an indigenous initiative to promote environmental awareness in Hong Kong.

EPF 2002

EPF 2002 was jointly organized by ECC and Environmental Protection Department (EPD), co-organized by four District Councils of Hong Kong Island (Central & Western District Council, Eastern District Council, Southern District Council and Wan Chai District Council) for the first time.

EPF 2002 focused on the themes "Reduce Waste", "Clean Air For You And Me" and "Protect Our Water Resources" with the public as the target participants of the activities. Its aims were to arouse the public's environmental protection awareness, to encourage them to participate in green activities, and to echo the Government's initiatives in environmental protection.

Launch of EPF 2002
(From left to right : Mr. Ching Hou-lam, Acting Member of the Executive Committee, Macau Environment Council; Mr. He Renxiang, Director of Center for Environmental Education and Communication, Guangzhou Environmental Protection Bureau; Ms. Zhang Xiaobing, Director of Center for Environmental Education and Communication, Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau; Ms. Zeng Yingru, Deputy Director of Zhuhai Environmental Protection Bureau; Ms. Cheng Xianghong, Deputy Director of Zhongshan Environmental Protection Bureau; Mr. Ray Tse, Convenor of Projects and Publicity Working Groups, ECC; Mr. Robert Law, JP, Director of Environmental Protection; Mrs. Rita Lau, JP, Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Environment); the Hon. Choy So-yuk, Chairman of Panel on Environmental Affairs, Legislative Council; Mr. Ronnie Wong, JP, Chairman of ECC; Mrs. Peggy Lam, SBS, JP, Founder Chairman of ECC and Chairman of Wan Chai District Council; Mr. Chan Tak-chor, MH, Vice Chairman of Central & Western District Council; Mr. Wong Che-ngai, Chairman of Environment and Hygiene Committee, Southern District Council; Mr. Paul Fan, JP, Chairman of Vetting Sub-Committee, Environment and Conservation Fund; Ir. Otto Poon, Chairman of Waste Reduction Committee; Mr. Donald Fast, Regional Director General, Pacific and Yukon Region, Environment Canada)

The Launching Ceremony was held on 3 November 2002 at Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event was opened to the general public free of charge from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. It aimed to convey to the general public the important messages of environmental protection via 96 fun-filled educational workshop sessions, 17 game booths and exhibitions. This community event had attracted 28,000 audiences who made use of the occasion to enjoy the day with their family members.

Participants wrote their green wishes onto used paper and folded them into different shapes, then threw them onto the "Green Wish Tree" made of aluminium cans or stuck them onto the tree trunk to express green wishes for better environment

District Environmental Activities Co-organized by District Councils of Hong Kong Island, Green Groups and ECC

Apart from the kick-off activities held on 3 November 2002, ECC provided sponsorships to 4 District Councils of Hong Kong Island and 4 local green groups to organize environmental activities at district level from October 2002 to January 2003 to echo the themes of EPF 2002. Through these activities, ECC aimed to convey the environmental protection messages to different communities. By encouraging the public to participate in green activities, their awareness and willingness to protect the environment were aroused.

In order to promote these activities and attract more participation, ECC invited representatives from the District Councils of Hong Kong Island and the green groups to introduce their district activities co-organized with ECC during the Ceremony.

Ms. Cheng Lai-king, Chairman of Working Group on Environmental Protection Campaigns, Central & Western District Council introduced the activities of Central & Western District

Ms. Chan Oi-kwan, Chairman of Working Group on Greening and Environmental Protection Activities, Eastern District Council introduced the activities of Eastern District

Mr. Wong Che-ngai, Chairman of Environment and Hygiene Committee, Southern District Council introduced the activities of Southern District

Mrs. Alice Pong, Chairman of Working Group on Environmental Protection Cleaning and Food Hygiene, Wan Chai District Council introduced the activities of Wan Chai District

Dr. Gordon Ng, Chief Executive of The Conservancy Association introduced the activities of The Conservancy Association

Mr. Edwin Lau, Assistant Director of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong) introduced the activities of Friends of the Earth (Hong Kong)

Dr. Man Chi-sum, Chief Executive Officer of Green Power introduced the activities of Green Power

Mr. Leung Wai-ki, Education Officer of World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong introduced the activities of World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong

Various Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes

At the Ceremony, graduation certificates were presented to the participants of the Z-Club and the Golden Z-Club Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes, the Interact and the Rotaract Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes, the Leo Environmental Protection Ambassador Scheme and The Boys' Brigade Environmental Protection Ambassador Scheme for the year 2001/2002.

The kick-off of the Z-Club and the Golden Z-Club Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes, the Interact and the Rotaract Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes, the Leo and the Senior Leo Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes, The Boys' Brigade and The Boys' Brigade Instructor Environmental Protection Ambassador Schemes for the year 2002/2003 was also held at the Ceremony.

Environmental pledge by Environmental Protection Ambassadors led by Mr. Robert Law, Mr. Ronnie Wong, Ms. Carrie Yuen, Area Director of Zonta International, District 17, Mrs. Gloria K.P. Chan, District Governor 2002-2003, Rotary International District 3450 (Hong Kong, Macau and Mongolia), Ms. Teresa K.F. Mann, District Governor 2002-2003, Lions Clubs International District 303 Hong Kong and Macau and Dr. W.K. Yau, Chairman of Training Committee, The Boys' Brigade, Hong Kong

Awards Presentation

At the Ceremony, presentation of Best Environmental Education and Community Action Projects Awards 2002 to winners of Primary Schools Category, Secondary Schools Category, Tertiary Institutes Category, Green Groups Category and Community Groups Category were held.

Mrs. Peggy Lam presented certificate to representatives of the winner of Primary Schools Category - Baptist Rainbow Primary School (A.M.). Their winning project was "Let's implement the "4R"for a fresher and greener tomorrow".

Mrs. Peggy Lam presented certificate to representatives of the winner of Secondary Schools Category - Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary School. Their winning project was "Promotion of Environmental Education in Secondary & Primary School - Sustainable Development and Southeastern Kowloon Development".

 

Mr. Donald Fast presented certificate to representatives of the winner of Community Groups Category - S.K.H. Lady Maclehose Centre - Family Activity & Resource Centre. Their winning project was "Save the Earth Start from Family"

Mrs. Peggy Lam presented certificate to representatives of the winner of Tertiary Institutes Category - The Hong Kong Institute of Education Social Science Department Geography Club. Their winning project was "Nature and Conservancy Scheme".

Mrs. Peggy Lam presented certificate to representatives of the winner of Green Groups Category - Green Power. Their winning project was "Be a Green Citizen".

English poetry recital - Miss Fang Sing and Miss Gurnit Kaur of St. Paul's Convent School
Works : (1) "The World Is Too Much With Us" by William Wordsworth (2) "Great, Wide, Beautiful, Wonderful World" by W.B. Rands

Chinese poetry recital - Mr. Huen Po Kin of Chan Shu Kui Memorial School
Works :

String ensemble - students of Diocesan Girls' School
Works : "Spring and Winter" from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi

Erhu ensemble - students of Diocesan Boys' School
Works :

Student Performance

ECC invited students of four schools to carry out performances at the Ceremony. The students received outstanding results in various poetry recital and music competitions.

Environmental Exhibitions

Three distinct zones of panels on EPF 2002' s themes were on display and participants could join the environmental quiz and get souvenirs.

Environmental-related exhibits and equipment were set up for visitors' perusal and, in some cases, for trial. People were able to get the latest air quality information via an Air Pollution Index hotline. Visitors also had the chance to see the Respiratory Suspended Particles High-Volume Air Sampler for measuring air pollution. In addition, EPD staff were on hand to introduce and demonstrate an interactive model of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme and a set up for measuring water quality. Besides, there was an open area to display products made of recycled materials such as stationery made of newspapers, a sofa made of plastic bottles ...

"Where did the waste go?" The panel introduced the flow of changing recyclable waste into recycled products

Children learnt the waste treatment process

Sofa made of used plastic bottles

EPD staff introduced to the audiences the equipment which could test how dusty the air was

Exhibition about "Controlling Smoky Vehicles"

EPD staff introduced the method of counting E.Coli in water

Demonstration of "Multi-Parameter Water Quality Monitoring Device"

The kids wanted to know more about the "Harbour Area Treatment Scheme"

Audiences learnt the method of measuring river and marine water quality

 

EPD's workshop "The Challenge of Waste Separation"

EPD's workshop "Do you know about Waste Reduction and Recycling?"

EPD's workshop 'Air Quality Monitoring"

EPD's workshop "Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Strategy"

EPD's workshop "Save the Water Resources - Our Concerted Efforts"

EPD's workshop "Where has the sewage gone?"

Environmental Workshops

EPD organized 6 environmental workshops with 96 educational workshop sessions each of half hour duration. The topics included waste reduction, separation and recycling, air quality monitoring, motor vehicle emissions control, sewage treatment and protect water resources.

Game Booths

Game Booths 17 game booths were organized by District Councils, government departments, green groups and community groups. Audiences actively participated in these fun-filled educational game booths and learnt the importance of environmental protection.

Acknowledgement to the following organizers of game booths :

1. Central & Western District Council

2. Eastern District Council

3. Southern District Council

4. Wan Chai District Council

5. Drainage Services Department*

6. Water Supplies Department*

7. AEON JUSCO Eco Living Club

8. Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

9. CLP Power Hong Kong Limited*

10. The Conservancy Association

11. Green Peng Chau Association

12. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited

13. The Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society

14. MTR Corporation Limited

15. PCCW Limited

16. Produce Green Foundation

17. Tai Po Environmental Association

Except organizations with * besides their names, the other organizations were sponsored by ECC to organize the game booths

Central & Western District Council's game booth "Green Recycle Project - Second Hand Donation and Transference Program"

Eastern District Council's game booth "Recycling Smart Kids"

Southern District Council's game booth "Environmental Protection Data Base"

Wan Chai District Council's game booth "Save Environment Action"

Drainage Services Department's game booth "Super Fun Ball Ball"

The Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society's game booth"Heart & Love for our ocean"

AEON JUSCO Eco Living Club's game booth "Green Creativity"

Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong's game booth"Renewable Resources"

CLP Power Hong Kong Limited's game booth "Recycle"

PCCW Limited's game booth "Keep Air Clean, I Can!"

Green Peng Chau Association's game booth "The Six "R"Principle in Waste Reduction"

Water Supplies Department's game booth "Save Water"

Produce Green Foundation's game booth "Newspaper Seedling Pot Workshop"

MTR Corporation Limited's game booth "Clean Environment Starts From You"

The Conservancy Association's game booth "Keep Our Environment Clean"

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited's game booth"Towngas Environmental Fun"

Tai Po Environmental Association's game booth "Clean Environment - Environmental Stars"

Sponsors

Local Themes for EPF in Previous Years