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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, left Hong Kong today (April 23) for duty visits to Japan and North America.
During the visits, Mr Yau will exchange views and share experiences on environmental protection with senior officials, business leaders and local communities and learn about the latest developments overseas.
In Tokyo, he will meet key car manufacturers to learn about the progress on electric vehicles. He will try the new electric car, the Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle ("i MiEV") provided by Mitsubishi Motors.
Mr Yau will also give a luncheon speech,¡§Towards a Pearl River Delta Quality Living Area: Green Vision, Green Opportunities¡¨.
On his second day in Japan, Mr Yau will visit Sanin Kaigan National Park to learn about Japan¡¦s experience in developing geoparks. Mr Yau will leave for Toronto on Sunday (April 26).
In Toronto, he will call on Ontario Minister of the Environment, Mr John Gerresten, and Senior Adviser to the Mayor of Toronto on Climate Change, Ms Mary McDonald, to exchange views on environmental protection issues. He will also meet City of Toronto officials to learn more about their waste and recycling policy.
He will visit ZENN (Zero Emission No Noise) as well as Bay Adelaide Centre where he will be briefed on electric vehicles and energy-saving measures in improving the environment.
Mr Yau will speak at a luncheon hosted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) and the Canada China Environmental Forum on ¡§Hong Kong¡¦s Game Plan in Green Transformation and Opportunities for Canadian Business.¡¨
On April 27, he will fly to Ottawa where he will meet the President of the Canadian Green Building Council, Mr Thomas Mueller.
He will speak at a roundtable luncheon jointly hosted by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation and the HKCBA Ottawa.
Mr Yau will leave for Washington DC on April 29 and call on the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and the Chinese Ambassador to the US, Mr Zhou Wenzhong.
He will also speak at a panel discussion at the Hong Kong¡VUnited States Business Council plenary on¡§Turning crisis into opportunity - green investment and energy co-operation.¡¨
On April 30, Mr Yau will head for Boston where he will meet professors to learn more about the research on electric vehicles and smart cities. He will also visit some green buildings in the area before returning to Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, April 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:01
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