(C) Progress Report on additional measures/new initiatives described in the Third White Paper Review
| Para | Status | Additional Measures/ New Initiatives |
Status as at December 97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste Management | |||
| 2.13 | L | Commission of a low level radioactive waste storage facility on Siu A Chau in 1997. | Commissioning of the low level radioactive waste storage facility was delayed due to objections from land owner and green groups, and tender complications. The commission date is deferred to mid-2000 |
| 2.14 | O | Introduce an improved marine refuse scavenging service in 1996. Further measures to reduce littoral and marine refuse are being considered. | Number of vessels for garbage reception and floating refuse scavenging increased to 21 and 37 respectively. Six specialised scavenging vessels at a cost of $37 million being acquired; first two will be delivered in late 1997. |
| Air | |||
| 2.38 |  |
Introduce the most advanced European emission standards and diesel fuel with a sulphur content of 0.05% in 1997. | Completed. Low sulphur content (0.05%) diesel and Euro II emission standards on large diesel vehicles were implemented on 1 April 1997. |
| 2.46 | |
Regulations are being prepared to control the standards of professionals and contractors taking part in asbestos abatement works. Once these are in force an Asbestos Administration Committee will be set up by mid-1996. | Completed. Asbestos Administration Committee was set up in May 1996. Registration of qualified personnel involved in handling asbestos started in May 1996. From June 1997 onwards, only registered personnel and undertakings will be allowed to handle asbestos related work. |
| 2.48 | O | Practice notes on ventilation in bus termini are being prepared and should be issued in mid-1997. | Draft Practice Notes were being finalised. The Transport Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department were liaised to improve the ventilation in existing bus termini. |
| 2.48 | O | Regulatory control of air quality in road tunnels is being considered. | Private Members' Bills to bring the air quality standards of the franchised tunnels in line with the latest international trend were enacted in June 1997. Transport Bureau is examining the technical capability of these tunnels to meet the revised, more stringent air quality requirements. |
| 2.50 | |
Co-ordinating local action to phase out CFCs, HCFCs and halons. | Import of CFCs for local consumption has been banned since January 1996. Quota control on local consumption of HCFC started in January 1996. |
| Noise | |||
| 2.53 | |
An amended Technical Memorandum is being prepared to tighten control on the use of diesel hammer pile drivers in populated areas. | Legislation and technical memorandum to phase out the use of noisy percussive hammers including diesel, steam and pneumatic hammers were made in May 1997. |
| 2.57 | |
Regulations to control false activation of car burglar alarms will be introduced in early 1996. | Completed. Implemented in April 1997. |
| 2.58 | O | Legislation to control noise from loudhailers and public address systems on vessels is being considered. | A "Guide on the Use of Loudhailers and Public Address Systems on Board of Vessels" has been distributed to the local shipping community. We are considering legislation to facilitate enforcement against vessels which cause unnecessary noise nuisance. |
| Integrated Pollution Control | |||
| 2.65 | |
Establish 'one-stop shop' licensing service for construction industry by end of 1996. | The 'one-stop shop' licensing service for construction industry has been set up in early 97 and extended to all other sectors by end of 1997. |
| 2.66 | O | Introduction of multi-disciplinary enforcement teams progressively through 1996 and 1997. | On-going. |
| Conservation | |||
| 2.69 | |
14 potential extension sites for Country Parks have been identified. One such site, at Tai Tong, was designated in 95. | 14 potential sites for Country Parks have been identified. Two such sites at Tai Tong and Wan Tsai, were designated in 1995 and 1996 respectively. |
| 2.70 | |
Two marine parks (at Hoi Ha Wan and Yan Chau Tong) and one marine reserve (at Cape D's Aguilar) will be established in 1996. | Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve were designated in July 1996. |
| 2.70 | |
A marine sanctuary will be established at Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau. | The Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park was designated in November 1996. |
| 2.71 | |
A consultancy on the management of Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay as a Ramsar site will start in early 1996. | The consultancy study on management of Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay was completed in March 1997. The recommendations will be implemented subject to resource allocation. |
| 2.71 | |
Hong Kong is to participate in the East Asia-Australasian Shorebird Reserve Network being set up to protect migratory birds. | The Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar site was included in the Network when it was launched in March 1996. |
| 2.72 | O | Two biodiversity baseline surveys have begun: one on terrestrial and freshwater habitats, the other on corals and fishes. | Both studies are in progress. The former will be completed in May 1998 and the latter in October 1998. |
| 2.72 | O | An artificial reef programme will start in 1996 to enhance fisheries resources and marine biodiversity | Preparation for the artificial reefs deployment commenced in July 1996. The first phase of the deployment is planned for December 1997 in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park and Yan Chau Tong Marine Park |
| 3.28 | O | Firm proposals on a comprehensive conservation policy should be ready by about May 1996. | Firm proposals on the comprehensive conservation policy are being considered by relevant government departments. |
| Energy Conservation | |||
| 2.74 | O | Planning is in hand to extend the voluntary energy efficiency labelling scheme to other kinds of appliance in addition to refrigerators. | The scheme was extended to cover washing machines in December 1997. We plan to expand th scheme to compact fluorescent lamp in 1999 and to non-household electrical appliances and gas appliances in future. |
| 2.74 | O | Other measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings at the design stage include the issue for consultation in 1996/97 of draft codes of practice on the design of lighting systems and air-conditioning systems. | We have completed the lighting and the air-conditioning design codes for voluntary implementation in late 1998. We are finalizing the draft code on electrical installations for EnAC endorsement in mid 1998. Public consultation on the draft code for lifts and escalators will start in late 1998. |
| 2.74 | O | Publicity materials on promoting energy conservation in the transport sector are being prepared. | Short tips on promoting energy conservation in transport sector are ready for distribution by EMSD. |
| 3.29 | |
The government intends to set up an Energy Advisory Committee during 1996. | The Energy Advisory Committee was set up in July 1996. |
| Sustainable Development | |||
| 3.24 - 3.27 | L | A major consultancy study called SUSDEV21 will start in 1996 (subject to funding approved by the LegCo). | The consultancy study has started in September 1997. |
| 3.32 | O | To consider how to take the environmental factor into account in our statistical system on the economy. | Detailed study will be carried out under the SUSDEV21 Study. |
| Life Cycle Analysis & Eco-labelling | |||
| 3.40 | |
In early 1996 the government will commission a $4.5 million study on life cycle analysis and eco-labelling. | The study was completed in May 97. |
| Toxic Substance Control | |||
| 2.49 - 3.42 | O | Action is in hand and regulations to control emissions of benzene from petrol filling stations and of perchloroethylene from dry cleaning processes. | Legislation is being prepared to require Petrol Filling Stations to install vapour recovery systems for their dispensing facilities to minimise benzene emissions. The laundry industry is being consulted on the draft regulation to reduce perchloroethylene emissions from dry cleaning processes. |
| Legends: Action completed L Programme running late O Action on-going |
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