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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam (in the absence of the Secretary for Environment), in the Legislative Council today (November 7):
Question:
Regarding the promotion of "green lunch" in schools, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have, when promoting "green lunch" arrangements to school sponsors, principals and teachers responsible for catering arrangements, helped them understand how to choose reliable green lunch box suppliers, so as to prevent them from being deceived by unscrupulous suppliers who abuse the term "green"; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether it will draw up mandatory measures to require schools to use reusable food containers and cutlery or adopt the practice of centralised lunch distribution when supplying lunch; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(c) whether it will review the existing licensing regime for lunch box suppliers to include the provision of genuinely "green" lunch as one of the licensing conditions;
(d) whether it will review the effectiveness of the authorities' work in promoting "green lunch" in primary schools; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(e) whether it will draw up specific work targets and timetable for promoting "green lunch" (including the adoption of the practices of centralised lunch distribution and washing containers on site by more than 70% of schools in the 2008-2009 school year, and the implementation of such practices across the board in the 2009-2010 school year), in order to achieve the target of "zero waste" for school lunch; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(f) given that the authorities have put in an enormous amount of resources to publicise healthy eating and drawn up guidelines to request for the reduction of the sale of "junk food" in schools, whether the authorities have assessed if the complementary measures for promoting "green lunch" are adequate; if they are not adequate, whether the authorities have assessed if they have adopted a double standard in performing these two tasks; if an assessment has been made, of the results?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has been working closely with the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) and the Education Bureau (EB) to promote green lunch to schools and parents. Efforts have also been made to promote and disseminate the green lunch message by formulating guidelines, holding talks, distributing promotional leaflets and video. The EPD estimates that the number of primary schools using disposable lunch boxes in the territory dropped from 75% in 2004 to about 42% in 2006, a sign that our efforts are yielding results.
Given the possibility that some lunch box suppliers may deliver "green" lunch services in name only, the EPD conducted a survey in mid-2007 by issuing questionnaires to all lunch box suppliers in the territory. Based on the findings of the survey, the EPD updated the list of green lunch suppliers. Suppliers on the list can provide catering service to schools including centralised lunch distribution and provision of lunch packed in reusable containers. Suppliers who use polypropylene containers, commonly known as "green" containers, have to make specific arrangements to recycle the lunch boxes.
The EPD, ECC and EB have jointly produced a new promotion video, which was distributed in early September to all kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools in the territory. The video provides comprehensive information on green lunch including experience sharing by schools which have successfully adopted green lunch practice. The video can help other schools understand the definition, requirements, implementation methods as well as the environmental and other benefits of green lunch. Such promotional and educational initiatives can reduce the chance of schools being misled by unscrupulous lunch box suppliers.
(b) The Government will continue to provide schools with appropriate guidelines in order to encourage schools to adopt a more environmental friendly lunch practice.
In light of the experience and information gathered in recent years, especially the results of the above mid-2007 survey, the EPD replaced the existing guideline with the "Guideline for Schools to Implement Green Lunch" in October this year. The new guideline sets a clearer direction and provides detailed suggestions on implementing green lunch. It also provides schools with more comprehensive information to prevent them from being misled by unscrupulous lunch box suppliers. Newly compiled lists of green lunch suppliers and disposable lunch box recyclers are appended to the guideline for schools' reference. Such information will be updated from time to time. The EPD hopes that the formulation of guidelines will facilitate schools to further implement green lunch.
(c) The EPD will maintain close liaison with lunch box suppliers with a view to promoting green lunch. To enable schools to make informed choices, the EPD will continue to help schools understand more about green lunch practice and identify genuine green lunch suppliers through drawing up guidelines and launching related publicity and education campaigns.
(d) The EPD will continue to gather information from schools, lunch box suppliers and disposable lunch box recyclers in order to review the effectiveness of these initiatives on an on-going basis.
(e) To achieve the waste reduction target, the EPD will continue to collaborate with the EB to further implement green lunch in schools through publicity and education. As schools and parents know more about this issue, and the lunch box suppliers are taking steps to meet the demand, it is expected that the number of schools adopting green lunch practice will continue to increase.
(f) Relevant government departments have actively encouraged schools to promote healthy and green lunch. They help schools to make the right choice through guidelines, education and publicity. Such efforts have proven to be effective as seen from the declining trend in the use of disposable lunch boxes in schools in the past few years.
Ends/Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:14
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