EPD - Environmental Performance Report 2003

Targets for 2003

Major Initiatives under EPD's programme:
Reporting Area	Targets for 2003
Contribution to Strategic Decision-making	To prepare a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) manual to provide guidelines and technical advice on SEA.
	To produce a CD-ROM to capture the knowledge and experience shared at the 揅onference on Reshaping Environmental Assessment Tools for Sustainability�.
	To update various environmental databases for the Computer-aided Sustainability Evaluation Tool (CASET) in 2003.
Prevention and Mitigation through Environmental Impact Assessment	To launch an additional feature in the EIAO Website to enable searching of environmental monitoring and audit information of major development projects by geographic area or by nature of the project in October 2003.
Better Air Quality	To continue the large-scale retrofit programme for pre-Euro standard diesel vehicles over 4 tonnes.
	To enforce the regulation to require installation of a particulate removal device in pre-Euro standard diesel vehicles up to 4 tonnes when their licences are renewed, subject to approval of the regulation by LegCo.
	To proceed with the continued enforcement of the perchloroethylene regulation, including the vetting of new dry-cleaning machines for inclusion into the approval list.
	To launch the voluntary Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme in mid-2003.
	To implement the following tasks, which were agreed by the special panel on Pearl River Delta Air Quality Management and Monitoring set up under the Hong Kong � Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection:
	To draw up a regional air quality management plan in 2003;
	To establish and operate a regional air quality monitoring network consisting of a total of 16 stations by 2004;
	To compile a 2001 regional emission inventory in 2003;
	To compile a handbook on preparing regional emission inventories in 2003;
	To conduct a technical exchange workshop on monitoring techniques for particulate matters and VOCs in February 2003;
	To evaluate the feasibility of establishing an emission trading pilot scheme in the energy sector in the Pearl River Delta Region by the end of March 2003.
	To finalise and issue the practice notes for managing air quality in air-conditioned public transport facilities.
	To introduce a regulation to require petrol filling stations to install vapour recovery systems to control the emission of petrol vapour during vehicle refueling by end 2003 and to implement the regulation in early 2004.
	To prepare a proposal to amend the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance to ban the importation of products containing CFCs, tentatively by 2005.
Quieter Environment	To review 200 planning schemes and strategic proposals to minimise noise problems for about 46 000 people.
	To review the eligibility of 20 existing roads for inclusion in the programme to retrofit barriers.
	To support investigation studies/design work for retrofitting barriers for Phases 1 and 2 of the retrofitting programme, the engineering feasibility studies for Phase 3 and the work for resurfacing the identified road sections.
	To issue codes of practice to guide the industry on good management practices to prevent violations of the Noise Control Ordinance.
	To conduct a study on noise levels in Hong Kong.
Better Water Quality	To finalise the report on the 2002 EPD-State Oceanic Administration marine monitoring method validation work and develop a plan to facilitate Hong Kong's participation in the National Marine Environment Monitoring Network.
	To complete the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) studies and consult the community on the way forward.
	To introduce the new effluent standards into Legislative Council for negative vetting subject to decision by our policy bureau.
	To propose a biological indicator monitoring strategy for the marine environment.
	To prepare a plan for monitoring pollution by toxic substances in the marine environment.
	To complete the on-going sewerage master plan (SMP) reviews.
	To commission a study on urban stormwater pollution, focusing on the West Kowloon area, and to recommend measures for tackling urban stormwater pollution problems.
	To work out a proposal for an effluent reuse demonstration scheme in the North District area.
	To carry out preparatory work for the first progress review of the Deep Bay Water Pollution Control Joint Implementation Programme in collaboration with the Shenzhen Environmental Protection Bureau.
	To formulate a Mirs Bay regional water quality management plan jointly with Shenzhen authorities.
Environmentally-Sound Waste Management and Facilities	To submit legislative proposals to tighten up control on illegal disposal of waste to the Legislative Council for consideration.
	To prepare a draft legislative framework to support waste reduction measures.
	To continue to implement on-going and new initiatives under the Waste Reduction Framework Plan.
	To produce the first draft Waste Management Plan.
	To submit the draft bill on landfill charging for the Legislative Council's consideration.
	To commission a pilot scheme to recycle waste tyres.
	To complete a pilot scheme at the North West New Territories Refuse Transfer Station for recycling electrical and electronic appliances.
	To continue the assessment of submissions received under the Expression of Interest (EOI) on Waste Management Facilities, and to develop integrated waste management facilities options based on the findings of the EOI exercise.
	To complete a financial service study to examine the best financial arrangements and financial contract terms for the development and management of a recovery park by May 2003.
	To consider other possible alternative uses of the Ngau Tam Mei Composting Plant site.
	To complete the construction of the grass pitch at the former Sai Tso Wan Landfill and open the facility for use by the public in March 2004.
	To commission the Ma Wan Refuse Transfer Facility.
	To test out a new mode of waste separation by implementing the Dry and Wet Waste Separation Pilot Programme in four housing estates in Eastern District.
	To commission feasibility studies on extension schemes for the WENT and NENT Landfills.
	To complete a review on the costs and benefits of the refuse transfer station network.
	To commence tendering for the provision of clinical waste treatment facilities in the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.
	To complete the Technical Feasibility Statement of the sludge treatment facilities and to start a feasibility and EIA study for the facilities.
	To award the contract for the design, construction and operation of a low level radioactive waste storage facility.
Effective Enforcement and Emergency Response	To develop and implement a departmental prosecution policy and enhance transparency to the public.
	To develop and implement a new Complaint Management Policy to streamline the handling of pollution complaints.
	To explore the use of portable digital assistants in routine enforcement work and complaint investigation with a view to enhancing effectiveness.
Building Partnerships	To develop guidebooks, train-the-trainer VCDs and websites on good practices for property managers and the construction and vehicle repair trades.
	To enhance the Restaurant Help Desk service by including Meet-the-Advisor services to provide technical advice on specific problems and to disseminate new technologies/green practices.
	To develop a partnership with clinical waste stakeholders through workshops and seminars so as to enable them to comply with the new clinical waste legislation.
	To hold 8 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Ordinance User Liaison Group meetings to share experiences and discuss how the EIA process can be improved.
	To issue seven Guidance Notes to provide guidelines on good practices on environmental impact assessment.
	To deliver more EIA training workshops for partnership building and for enhancing understanding of the EIA mechanism.
	To continue the EIA Helpdesk Hotline to advise on EIA matters.
	To promote the EIA training and capacity building programme to the private sector.
	To set up a Property Management Partnership Liaision Group as a one-stop forum for discussing and resolving environmental issues, including waste reduction, which are of concern to the property management sector.
Environmental Awareness and Education	To implement Phase VII of the Waste Recycling Campaign in Housing Estates in 2003 to recruit 120-150 more housing estates to participate.
	To invite 743 schools and over 12 660 students to join the Student Environmental Protection Ambassador Scheme in 2003.
	To conduct 45 training workshops to train 900 stakeholders to be green leaders in the first quarter of 2003. To complete the Green Leader programme by the end of March 2003.
	To conduct six environmental education training workshops for 300 primary teachers in 2003.
	To arrange 110 community visits by the Mobile Environmental Resource Centre in 2003.
	To invite 150 more pre-schools to join the Waste Separation Scheme for Pre-schools in 2003.
	To organize 75 environmental awareness training sessions for civil servants in 2003-04.
	To arrange 120 community outreach visits by Green Desk in 2003-04.

Initiatives to Strengthen the Environmental Performance of Our Internal Operations:

Reporting areas	Target for 2003
Corporate Environmental Management	To complete the review of environmental aspects of EPD's internal activities.
Minimising the Impacts of Our Operations	To continue close supervision of our waste facilities contractors aiming at full compliance with both legal and contractual environmental requirements.
Minimising the Impacts of Our Operations	To achieve full compliance with legal and departmental environmental requirements in our laboratories and field operations.
Greener Office	To further reduce photocopy paper consumption by 2.5% in accordance with a government-wide voluntary paper saving target.
	To implement further energy saving measures in conjunction with an energy audit.
	To further pursue green transport arrangements and reduce reliance on Government vehicles.
	To extend the e-request arrangement for purchasing equipment/consumables, and to phase out hard copy submission.
	To explore wider use of mobile computing in field work and operations.
Staff Awareness, Training and Participation	To organize workshops and visits for all staff.
Staff Awareness, Training and Participation	To promote staff participation and contributions to complement government-wide waste reduction initiatives.