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Release
Staff exchange programme between EPD and SEPA to enhance cooperation
A staff exchange programme
between the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the State
Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) will be held in Beijing
between October 19 and November 12.
"This is the EPD's first staff exchange programme with a national
environmental authority," the Assistant Director of Environmental
Protection (Environmental Assessment and Noise), Mr Elvis Au, said
today (October 17).
The programme aims to share experience in Hong Kong's environmental
impact assessment (EIA) system and expertise in managing environmental
impacts of major development projects.
Principal Environmental Protection Officer Mr Simon Hui will take
two Environmental Protection Officers, Mr Steve Li and Mr Matthew
Chan, to participate in the exchange programme. All of them have
extensive experience in the local EIA system. They will work at
the EIA centre of the SEPA in Beijing.
"During the exchange, our colleagues will focus on technical support
and personnel training for the setting up of an electronic EIA system
including an intranet system for EIA management control and an internet
system for networking with provincial governments.
"They will share with their Mainland counterparts their experience
of a transparent web-based EIA system and the recently introduced
three-dimensional public engagement tools for the EIA process.
"Our colleagues will also learn from their counterparts about the
EIA system and practices in the Mainland," Mr Au said.
The mutually beneficial staff exchange programme is a key co-operation
item under a regular exchange mechanism set up between the SEPA
and the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau/EPD on EIA.
The programme reflects
the Government's commitment to enhance co-operation and exchanges
with the Mainland on environmental matters.
"It is a further concrete step to build on the collaboration we
have already established with the SEPA on training and capacity
building as well as sharing of experience and expertise.
"It also shows the recognition of the Mainland authority of Hong
Kong's experience and expertise in environmental assessment matters,"
Mr Au said.
This exchange mechanism will also include a staff exchange programme
in Hong Kong for SEPA officers early next year.
Other collaboration programmes between the Mainland and Hong Kong
on EIA include Mr Au's participation in a training course on strategic
environmental assessment organised by the World Bank and the SEPA
in Shanghai between October 12 and 14. It was beamed real-time to
distance learning centres in Beijing, Xinjiang and Washington DC.
Mr Au also previously participated in a train-the-trainer course
of the SEPA for about 100 senior Mainland professionals and officials
on strategic environmental assessment held in Beijing in March this
year.
The EPD is also assisting the SEPA in organising an international
conference on EIA to be held in Hainan in December, and in sharing
EIA resource materials.
Ends/Sunday, October 17, 2004
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