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The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC):
The 2012 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) were officially launched today (May 4) by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.
Also at today's ceremony, Sectoral Awards and Green Innovations Awards were presented to winners of the 2011 HKAEE.
The HKAEE aim to encourage businesses and organisations to adopt green management practices and to recognise those that contribute to protecting the environment. The 2011 HKAEE include four award programmes, namely Sectoral Awards, Green Innovations Awards, Environmental Labels and Carbon "Less" Certificates.
Sectoral Award winners are judged on three criteria, namely green leadership, programme and performance, and partner synergy. The awards are given to organisations that have demonstrated outstanding environmental performance across different sectors. In 2011, there were eleven sectors competing for the awards – the construction industry; financial, legal and business consulting services; hotels and recreational clubs; import and export trades; manufacturing; property management; public organisations and utilities; restaurants; schools; transport and logistics; and wholesalers and retailers.
A spokesman for the ECC said 585 entries competed for the 2011 Sectoral Awards, an increase of 60 per cent over 2008 when the scheme was first launched.
A total of 38 gold, silver, bronze and SME Awards, and 102 certificates of merit, were presented to businesses and organisations in the eleven sectors.
Introduced in 2011, the Green Innovations Awards scheme aims to encourage local organisations to meet environmental challenges with new ideas that will yield benefits to the environment. The assessment criteria include level of innovation, environmental achievements and cost-effectiveness, and replicability and contribution to society. Among a total of 17 entries competing under the theme Energy Conservation, one silver award, one bronze award and three certificates of merit were granted.
The spokesman noted that this was the first year for the Green Innovations Awards and some very ingenious entries were received. The recruitment pool will be broadened next year with two priority themes, namely Energy Conservation and Waste Management.
As for Environmental Labels and Carbon "Less" Certificates, the two schemes have been very well received, with a cumulative total of more than 3,400 and 340 applications filed into the respective schemes.
The spokesman added that all entries were assessed by professionals and the assessment process was both rigorous and comprehensive. The 2011 Adjudicating Panels were chaired by Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Tsui Lap-chee, and comprised representatives of major business chambers, professional bodies and government departments.
The 2012 HKAEE is now open for applications for Sectoral Awards, Green Innovations Awards, Environmental Labels and Carbon "Less" Certificates.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were the Chairman of the ECC, Professor David Lung; the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau; the Chairman of Final Adjudicating Panels of 2011 HKAEE, Professor Lap-chee Tsui; and representatives of the joint organisers.
Since its introduction in 2008, the HKAEE has been jointly organised by the ECC, the Environmental Protection Department, the Advisory Council on the Environment, the Business Environment Council, the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Productivity Council. The HKAEE is sponsored by the Environment and Conservation Fund.
The ECC will launch a number of information-sharing seminars in April and May for winning organisations to share their experience in going green. Organisations wishing to know more about the HKAEE may obtain details at the seminars. For more information on enrollment, please visit the HKAEE website at www.hkaee.org.hk or call the hotline 2788 5903.
Ends/Friday, May 4, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:31
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