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During a sharing session with Sai Kung District Council today (September 6) the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, briefed members on Hong Kong's waste management strategy for the coming 10 years and listened to their views on the issue to learn more about local concerns.
Mr Wong said the Environment Bureau unveiled in May this year the "Hong Kong: Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013-2022", which maps out a comprehensive strategy and targets for waste management in the coming 10 years. He emphasised that the support of different sectors of the community, the District Councils and local people in particular, is key to the effective implementation of the measures in the blueprint so as to respond to Hong Kong's waste challenges in a collaborative manner.
Mr Wong first briefed members on the key actions for waste reduction in the blueprint, reiterating that through a multi-pronged approach coupled with a series of measures, the goal of "Use Less, Waste Less" would be achieved. These measures include the stepping up of waste reduction at source and recycling efforts, policies and legislation on waste reduction, territory-wide waste reduction campaigns and the development of waste-related infrastructure. The goal is to reduce the per capita disposal rate of municipal solid waste by 40 per cent by 2022, and to transform the management structure of waste recycling, modern incineration and landfill disposal in Hong Kong to 55 per cent, 23 per cent and 22 per cent respectively by 2022.
In addition, to address the concerns of some council members about the operation of the South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill, Mr Wong outlined the progress of various improvement measures covering refuse collection vehicles, the odour issue, reducing the number of vehicle loads and monitoring district air quality. He also called on Sai Kung District Council members to support and promote local waste reduction and recycling projects. Mr Wong stressed that the whole community in the 18 districts should take action and share responsibility for reducing waste at source.
Concluding the meeting with Sai Kung District Council members today, Mr Wong said the visit enabled the Government to listen to the views of the members and both parties had discussion and exchange on waste challenges. He added that the Government wishes to continue its dialogue with the District Council as well as local people and bodies in order to fine-tune the waste management policy and achieve the targets set in the blueprint.
Ends/Friday, September 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:02
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