The past decade has seen many achievements in Hong Kong's efforts to pre-empt environmental problems through the application of an environmental assessment process to policy, planning and project proposals. Development and policy proposals submitted to the Executive Council which involve environmental issues and all submissions to the Public Works Subcommittee of the Legislative Council's Finance Committee must contain an assessment of the environmental implications.

Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance

The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) came into effect on April 1, 1998. It provides a systematic, clear and transparent framework for assessing the environmental impacts arising from major development projects and for implementing effective prevention and mitigation measures. It is supplemented by a technical memorandum setting out clear, consistent technical guidelines and criteria. Information on applications made under the ordinance is available at the EPD's home page. Since the implementation of the ordinance, 64 EIA reports have been approved and over one million people and many ecologically sensitive areas are protected against unacceptable environmental impacts.

    The EIAO Support Section was established in July 2002 to provide support service to government project proponents on the implementation of the EIAO. The section implements an EIA training and capacity building programme for relevant government departments to enhance their understanding of the EIA mechanism.

Environmental Monitoring and Audit

Environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) is an integral part of the EIA process to validate the assumptions made in the planning stage and to monitor the effectiveness of prescribed mitigation measures during project implementation. This is to ensure that every project delivers the environmental performance promised in the impact assessments. In 2001, the EPD managed about 163 EM&A programmes for major projects.

    Starting from 1999, the EPD has been promoting EM&A reporting through the Internet — the Cyber EIA Process under EIAO. For major projects, permit holders are required to set up dedicated websites to publish their project information including EM&A data and results in user-friendly format. Since April 2002, major projects have been required to set up web camera systems to make live images of the site conditions accessible by the public through the dedicated website. The web-based reporting provides easier access to information on environmental performance and enhances public participation in the monitoring of the EIA process.

Land Use Planning

Environment concerns are incorporated into land use planning through the application of the environmental planning standards and guidelines. The Advisory Council on the Environment considered the results of a strategic environmental assessment of the Territorial Development Strategy Review in 1996. In 1997, the Planning Department began further studies on some new development areas that the review identified. Environmental Impact Assessments form the integral part of these studies and have identified major environmental issues and possible mitigation measures for integration into the land use plans.

Environmental Sustainability

The assessment of the Territorial Development Strategy showed that continuing urbanisation would likely have implications on air and water quality, increase public exposure to noise and overload Hong Kong's waste disposal capacity. While the timely provision of resources and environmental mitigation measures could resolve some of these issues, others may require fundamental reconsideration of the proposals' implications on Hong Kong's long-term sustainability. The issue of environmental sustainability is being revisited in the new round of review of the Territorial Development Strategy (known as the Hong Kong 2030: Planning Vision and Strategy) which began in September 2000.

Environmental Management

The Government has been promoting environmental management in both the public and private sectors since 1992. A number of initiatives have been introduced, including the Green Manager Scheme, the adoption of environmental auditing, the environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental reporting. The Government leads by example: all bureaux and departments have appointed their Green Managers; most of them have regular environmental audit programmes; and some have been certified to ISO14001 standard. Starting from 2000, all bureaux and departments are required to publish annual environmental reports on environmental performance in their operations, programmes and policy areas. To encourage wider adoption of this green practice by more local corporations, a special programme targeted at senior executives was conducted in September 2001 and a guidebook on environmental performance reporting for the private sector was published. Useful environmental management information is also available at the EPD's home page.

Cross-boundary Liaison on EIA and Environmental Planning

Environmental pollution transcends administrative boundaries. Hong Kong and Guangdong have worked together on environmental matters for nearly 20 years. In order to enhance the collaboration, a Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection was set up in 2000. Eight special panels were formed under the Joint Working Group to examine specific environmental issues in which cooperation could be enhanced.

    On the transboundary air issue, the Government has completed a joint study on air quality problems in the Pearl River Delta region. Based on the results of the joint studies, Hong Kong and Guangdong reached a consensus in April 2002 to implement measures that would bring long-term improvements to regional air quality. The two Governments would aim, on a best endeavour basis, to reduce the regional emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, respirable suspended particulates and volatile organic compounds by 40, 20, 55 and 55 per cent respectively, using 1997 as the base year, and strive to achieve those targets by 2010. On the water quality front, based on the Deep Bay regional control strategy study completed in 1998, a joint implementation plan was drawn up in 1999 for both Hong Kong and Shenzhen to reduce pollution loads to acceptable levels within 15 years. A similar joint study for Mirs Bay was started in mid-2000. The two sides are also working in collaboration to improve the water quality of the Pearl River Delta and the Dongjiang (East River) and to protect Chinese white dolphins and fisheries resources.

Rural Developments

The Government is committed to improving the quality of life in rural areas and to ending or removing land uses that degrade the rural environment. Village sewage disposal has also improved in the rural areas of the New Territories.

Potentially Hazardous Installations

Installations such as explosive depots and chemical stores may pose a risk to nearby residents. Hong Kong has had no major disasters but global experience of large-scale accidents highlights the need for risk management.

    The Government has completed risk assessments on all potentially hazardous installations in Hong Kong. It has completed or is implementing all its plans for risk reduction and has substantially reduced the risk to the public. However, the risk management of the potentially hazardous installation (PHI) sites is an ongoing process due to changes in dangerous goods inventories and population development near PHI sites. In addition to PHI sites, risk assessment is required under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance for designated projects which manufacture, store, use or transport dangerous goods.