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Press Release
Environment Hong Kong 2003 published
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The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) published its latest annual report today (September 3) to report on progress made in improving the environment and outline the challenges ahead.
In the Foreword, the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, said solid progress was made in waste and sewage management in 2002.
The recycling rates of municipal solid waste and domestic waste went up respectively to 36 per cent and around 13 per cent in the year.
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Outlining the progress made in improving the environment in 2002, "Environment Hong Kong 2003" is now on sale at $54 at the online Government Bookstore. |
Dr Liao said: "We also succeeded in arresting the growth of municipal solid waste disposed of in landfills for three consecutive years since 2000, reversing the 3.5 per cent annual growth rate before 2000.
"We witnessed significant improvement in the water quality of Victoria Harbour, particularly in the Eastern and Central Harbour, following the full commissioning of Stage I of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme in late 2001.
"In 2002, we continued to make good progress in our work to reduce motor vehicle emissions.
"Compared with 1999, the concentrations of particulates and nitrogen oxides at the roadside had fallen by 19 and 16 per cent respectively in 2002."
Entitled "Environment Hong Kong 2003", the annual report emphasises the EPD's efforts to form partnerships with local key stakeholders in tackling environmental problems.
The partnership programmes have brought greater environmental awareness, with more companies complying with environmental laws.
Apart from partnerships with local stakeholders, the annual report gives an account of cooperation with regional and international organisations on protecting the environment.
It also looks ahead to major tasks in different aspects of the environment in the coming years.
The full-colour report is printed on recycled paper. It is divided into nine chapters highlighting the work done in the past year in different areas including community awareness, partnerships, environmental assessment and planning, air, noise, waste, water and enforcement.
There is also a chapter highlighting the 25 years of environmental protection in Hong Kong since the establishment in 1977 of the Environmental Protection Unit, which was succeeded by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1981 and the Environmental Protection Department in 1986 to cover wider responsibilities.
The companion resource materials, in CD-ROM form, summarise the progress made in 2002, with detailed figures, tables and charts.
The Chinese and English versions of the annual report, each with a bilingual CD-ROM attached, are now on sale at $54 each. The bilingual CD-ROM is also available for sale at $9 each.
Orders can be placed at the Government Bookstore on the Internet at http://bookstore.esdlife.com.
It can be ordered through other channels including by phone from the Publications Sales Section of the Information Services Department (ISD) at 2537 1910, by fax at 2523 7195 or online after downloading the order form from the ISD website at http://isd.gov.hk, or by e-mail at puborder@isd.gov.hk.
The annual report and the companion resource materials are also available on the EPD website at http://www.epd.gov.hk.
End/Wednesday, September 3, 2003
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