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The Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (JWGSDEP) held its 13th meeting in Hong Kong today (January 13). The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Director-General of the Guangdong Environmental Protection Department. The meeting reviewed the environmental collaboration of the two sides in 2013, and agreed on a work plan for 2014.
On the review of environmental collaboration in 2013, both sides considered that good progress had been made on various fronts, including improving the air quality in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, promoting cleaner production, protecting the water environment and managing the forestry and marine resources (see details in Annex A).
Both sides also discussed the work plan for 2014, including a key focus on Guangdong-Hong Kong's collaboration in further improving the air quality in the PRD region, through finalising the arrangements for the enhancement of PRD Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network, commencing a joint study on fine suspended particulates for the PRD region, and exploring co-operation in air pollution forecasting. The work plan also covers collaboration in promoting cleaner production, protecting the water environment, and managing the forestry and marine resources (as detailed in Annex B).
The JWGSDEP, co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of the Guangdong Provincial Government, was set up in 2000. Officials of the Hong Kong SAR Government attending today's meeting included representatives of the Environment Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Officials on the Guangdong side included representatives of the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province, the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province, the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province, the Forestry Department of Guangdong Province, the Administration of Ocean and Fisheries of Guangdong Province, and the Human Settlements and Environment Commission of Shenzhen Municipality. The JWGSDEP discusses and carries out exchanges on matters relating mainly to environmental quality, natural resources, the ecological environment and sustainable development. Seven special panels have been set up under the JWGSDEP to take forward various co-operation initiatives.
Ends/Monday, January 13, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:09
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