***********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC):
The award presentation ceremony of the 7th Hong Kong Green School Award (HKGSA) was held today (April 3) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Officiating at today's ceremony were Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong; Chairman of the Panel on Environmental Affairs of the Legislative Council and Chairman of the Final Adjudicating Panel of the 7th HKGSA (primary and secondary schools categories), Ms Audrey Eu; Chairman of the ECC, Mr Joseph Lee; Deputy Secretary for Education, Dr Catherine Chan; Convenor of the ECC Education Working Group, Mr George Tam; and Chairman of the Final Adjudicating Panel of the 7th HKGSA (pre-school category), Mr Lui Tung Ming.
Launched in 2000, the HKGSA is jointly organised by the ECC, the Environmental Protection Department and the Education Bureau, co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Vocational Training Council and sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF).
The scheme aims to encourage schools to formulate a school environmental policy and implement an environmental management plan for a green school; and to enhance environmental awareness, develop an environmentally friendly attitude and promote green practices among school managers, teachers, non-teaching staff, students and their parents.
96 primary and secondary schools and 93 pre-schools joined the award scheme this year. The theme of the 7th HKGSA was "Green Lifestyle", which aimed to encourage teachers, students and non-teaching staff to adopt green practices in various aspects of daily life and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Winners of the primary and secondary schools categories were selected by the Final Adjudicating Panel chaired by Ms Audrey Eu. The selection was based on the performance of the participating schools in five areas: "Environmental Infrastructure", "Environmental Management", "Environmental Education", "Effectiveness of Environmental Education" and "School Members' Participation in Environmental Activities".
Kiangsu-Chekiang College (Shatin), Haven of Hope Sunnyside School (secondary section) and Fukien Secondary School were selected as the champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up respectively in the secondary school category. Hong Kong Red Cross Margaret Trench School (primary section) and S.K.H. Wing Chun Primary School shared the championship in the primary school category while the 2nd runner-up was Tai Po Methodist School.
In the pre-school category, the Final Adjudicating Panel was chaired by Mr Lui Tung Ming who is an ECC member. The panel selected three to four pre-schools for each of the four judging criteria for the "Outstanding Awards". The judging criteria were "Environmental Infrastructure", "Environmental Management", "Environmental Education" and "Parents' Participation in Environmental Activities".
The Salvation Army Kam Tin Nursery School won the "Outstanding Awards" in all the judging criteria in the 7th HKGSA. Caritas Nursery School - Ta Kwu Ling, which had already won "Outstanding Awards" in "Environmental Management", "Environmental Education" and "Parents' Participation in Environmental Activities" in the 6th HKGSA, won the "Outstanding Award" in "Environmental Infrastructure" this year.
The winners of the primary and secondary schools categories will be given cash prizes sponsored by the ECF for promoting environmental management and education in their schools. This year, the cash prizes for the champion, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up in the secondary school category were $60,000, $50,000 and $40,000 respectively while those for the champions and 2nd runner-up in the primary school category were $45,000 and $30,000 respectively. In the pre-school category, the ECF sponsored $5,000 for each "Outstanding Award" under the four judging criteria.
For enquiries please call the Secretary to the ECC, Mr Francis Wong, at 2835 1212.
Ends/Friday, April 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:16
NNNN
