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The Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, today (December 12) met the visiting Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ms Gina McCarthy, to exchange views on air quality management and to discuss further collaboration on environmental protection issues.
In October 2011, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) signed a Statement of Intent with the EPA outlining a joint commitment to expand regional co-operation in environmental protection. Hong Kong and the US have shared various challenges in evaluating and managing air quality and both environmental agencies have common standards of practice, including robust quality assurance and advanced technical expertise in air quality measurement and modelling.
"The EPD and the EPA have made concerted efforts in the past couple of years and would like to further strengthen collaboration in air quality management. Some initial areas of common interest have been identified recently. The closer co-operation will benefit both agencies as well as support scientific air research and related policies," Ms Loh said.
"Air quality management is definitely an area of mutual concern. We hope that our close partnership will drive further collaboration efforts in the region to advance shared environmental and health priorities," Ms McCarthy said.
The EPD and the EPA have agreed to have more frequent exchanges of information periodically to enable both sides to stay up to date on emerging air research topics. Both sides also plan to jointly host events, such as a series of workshops on marine vessel emissions as well as next-generation air quality modelling and measurement methods, to support information sharing between scientists and policymakers from both sides.
In addition to regular information exchanges, the EPD and the EPA will identify specific research topics related to air quality modelling, measurement and advanced data analysis with a view to providing scientific support to both governments for policy formulation leading to better air quality and public health.
Ends/Thursday, December 12, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:00
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