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    Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (March 9) :

Question:

    Will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(a) the amount of waste to be produced daily by the Hong Kong Disneyland ("HKDL") upon its opening in September this year; and whether there are plans to recover and recycle such waste; if so, of the details of the plans;

(b) which of the facilities in HKDL have adopted energy-saving designs; and

(c) whether renewable energy will be used in HKDL; if so, of the details, including the percentage of the electricity thus saved against the total electricity consumption?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) According to information provided by the Hong Kong International Theme Parks Limited (HKITPL), Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL), including the affiliated hotels, will generate about 13 tons of waste per day after its opening.  In the course of providing entertainment, HKITPL also attaches great importance to protecting the environment.  It is now drawing up a comprehensive Waste Management Plan (WMP) and will design and implement suitable measures to minimise waste.  HKITPL is required to submit the WMP to the Director of Environmental Protection for approval at least one month before HKDL commences operation.  The WMP shall include details of how the mitigation measures of operational waste management will be implemented, together with the arrangements for avoidance, minimisation, material recovery/recycling, collection, transportation and disposal of various types of waste generated during the operation of the theme park.  Preliminary information from HKITPL suggests that examples of waste management measures to be adopted include :

* Encouraging separation at source of recyclable materials by providing convenient access to recycling bins both in guest areas and back of house facilities;

* Reducing the use of paper towels through the use of hand-dryers in lieu of paper towels in most public washroom facilities;

* Use of reusable delivery cages, totes and containers for transportation of food and products between warehouses/back of house facilities to various outlets within the theme park; and

* Encouraging the use of reusable utensils and containers in restaurants and food outlets within the theme park where feasible.

(b) According to the HKITPL, its environmental policy is to strive for improved water and energy conservation in existing operations, and to incorporate into its design and operations an extensive Energy Management System which monitors and controls the energy consumption of electrical and mechanical facilities, air conditioning systems, water supply systems, lighting systems, etc in the theme park.

    The Energy Management System enables precise and efficient ventilation, temperature and humidity control.  The theme park uses high-efficiency centralised water-cooled systems.  Depending on the number of occupants at the time, the ventilation systems introduce suitable amount of fresh air into buildings thereby avoiding excessive hot, humid outside air mixing with indoor air.  Cool, dry exhaust air is used to remove heat and moisture from the entering ventilation air and as a result, the compressor operations of the air conditioning systems can be minimised.

    The Energy Management System also precisely coordinates outdoor lighting installations.  Dusk and dawn times are calculated daily to control the lighting and avoid wastage.

    The system monitors and records the energy consumption levels park-wide and will generate notification to responsible personnel where energy consumption limits are exceeded.  This will enable early detection and rectification of faulty facilities.

    In addition, where feasible, heat-insulating materials have been used in walls, roofs and windows to reduce cooling loads during summer.

(c) According to HKITPL, HKDL has not used renewable energy systems for the time being.  However, the company will continue to monitor developments in the use of renewable energy in Hong Kong and consider the feasibility of doing so at the theme park where this could fully meet the design and operational requirements of HKDL.

Ends/Wednesday, March 9, 2005

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