************************************************************
Following is a question by the Hon Raymond Ho and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (January 7):
Question:
In August last year, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Guangdong Provincial Government agreed to jointly map out a strategy to transform "the Greater Pearl River Delta Region into a green quality living sphere" on the basis of environmental protection and sustainable development. To this end, the mode of cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong on environmental protection will be changed from focusing on collaboration in individual projects in the past to regional environmental cooperation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the specific differences between the old and new modes of cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong on environmental protection;
(b) of the details of the areas which will be covered by regional environmental cooperation; and
(c) what Hong Kong's role in regional environmental cooperation will be?
Reply:
President,
(a) Environmental problem is trans-boundary in nature, and it is not practicable for either Hong Kong or Guangdong to deal with the problem on their own. To effectively tackle the environmental issues of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region, it calls for close regional collaboration and co-ordination. Hong Kong and Guangdong has a long history and solid foundation in environmental collaboration. Environmental protection has been made a regular discussion item at the Hong Kong/Guangdong Cooperation Joint Conference (HKGDCJC). To foster closer collaboration, the Hong Kong/Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (JWGSDEP), co-chaired by the Director-General of Environmental Protection Bureau of Guangdong Province (GDEPB) and myself, has been proactively taking forward various regional environmental protection initiatives.
Over the years, both sides have continuously deepen and widen co-operation on environmental protection, by implementing environmental initiatives, carrying out studies and research, technical exchanges, as well as sharing work experience and information. The two governments have also established common targets and co-operation platforms. These include the consensus reached by both sides to work towards reducing the emissions of four major air pollutants by 20% - 55% in the region by 2010; development of the PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan (RAQMP); establishment of the PRD Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network; and launching of a five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme to facilitate the trades to pursue cleaner production technologies and practices, etc.
On the basis of the existing cooperation platform, both sides agreed last year to further deepen and enhance co-operation on the environmental front. At the 11th Plenary of the HKGDCJC held on August 5, 2008, the Chief Executive and the Governor of Guangdong Province announced that the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government would jointly draw up strategies to transform the PRD Region into a green and quality living area. The new co-operation strategies will be underpinned by the principle of promoting environmental protection and sustainable development. Building on the past collaborative efforts, this initiative seeks to develop a more comprehensive and forward looking approach in taking forward regional environmental cooperation. The focus is to develop the PRD Region into a low-carbon, high-technology and low-pollution city cluster of quality living.
In order to bring Hong Kong-Guangdong environmental cooperation to the next higher level, and to dovetail our regional environmental protection efforts with those at the national level, it was agreed at the 9th meeting of JWGSDEP held in December 2008 that both sides should strive to include the proposal for transforming the PRD region into a green and quality living area in the upcoming National 12th Five-year Plan. This would help underline the strategic role of both places in the National 12th Five-year Plan and raise the overall competitiveness of the Greater PRD Region.
Simply speaking, as Mr Ho said earlier, the cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong on environmental protection has evolved from focusing on collaboration in individual aspects in the past to a more comprehensive approach to develop a living sphere, which is based on low carbon economy, high technology and low pollution.
(b) At the 9th JWGSDEP meeting held in December last year, both sides agreed to swiftly set in train discussions on details of the co-operation areas and associated arrangement.
Under the proposed new mode of regional environmental co-operation, both sides will continue to take forward current initiatives under the JWGSDEP. These include continuing to implement emission reduction measures under the RAQMP, jointly working towards achievement of the 2010 emission reduction targets; and actively promoting energy efficiency and cleaner production to industrial enterprises at both places. Both sides will also seek to extend cooperation to other areas in our quest for deepening regional environment co-operation, and to integrate environmental protection into economic development. Initial ideas being explored for enhanced co-operation under this new framework include drawing up the post-2010 arrangements for improving regional air quality; looking into the feasibility of joint development of cleaner energy and renewable energy on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding in respect of the supply of stable and long-term nuclear energy and natural gas from the Mainland to Hong Kong; facilitating the development of a regional circular economy which provides for green business opportunities; promoting co-operation between enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong in optimal utilization of resources as well as in developing environmental protection industries, promoting cleaner production with a view to jointly upgrading the quality of enterprises in the region; and strengthening co-operation in scientific research on environmental matters, enhancing co-operation in water resources management in the Pearl River catchment and nature conservation, etc.
(c) We believe Hong Kong and Guangdong can both usefully draw on their respective competitive edge and jointly work towards developing the PRD Region into a green and quality living area. As an international financial centre, we can play a facilitating role in bringing in capital investment and developing related trading platforms etc. Furthermore, by introducing advanced technologies, transferring management expertise and systems, facilitating scientific research, and leveraging on the production base in the Greater PRD Region, environmental protection will be integrated into the economic development and industrial structure of both places. Hong Kong can also play a role in introducing internationally recognised targets and emission standards, providing support to industries and factories in the PRD Region in adopting cleaner production, and assisting Hong Kong-owned enterprises in their upgrading and restructuring processes.
Ends/Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:46
NNNN
