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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, will depart for the United States (US) tomorrow (September 21) morning to attend the C40 Steering Committee Meeting and to learn more about the US' experience in green building and other issues related to energy and the environment.
The first leg of Mr Wong's visit will be in New York on September 22 and 23 (New York time). On September 22, Mr Wong will first attend the C40 Steering Committee Mayoral Meeting and the opening of Climate Week NYC 2014. He will join the reception for the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Awards in the evening. He will also visit the Skyscraper Museum during the day.
On September 23, Mr Wong will address a luncheon co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York and the American Institute of Architects. He will then visit various certified green buildings, including the newest residential building at the High Line park and Brookfield Place and the Visionaire in Battery Park City. In addition, he will meet with the President of the Battery Park City Authority, Ms Shari Hyman. Battery Park City is a leading example of sustainable neighbourhood development.
Mr Wong will depart in the morning on September 24 (New York time) for his next stop in Washington, DC, where he will join a roundtable discussion hosted by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars with environmental and energy experts and think tanks.
On September 25 (Washington, DC time), Mr Wong will visit the US Green Building Council to exchange views on green building development. He will then meet with the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Ms Gina McCarthy, to discuss issues on regional air quality and marine port emissions.
At his last stop in Seattle on September 26 (Seattle time), Mr Wong will deliver a keynote speech at a luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco. He will also call on the Director of the Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment, Ms Jill Simmons, and have meetings with representatives from the Bullitt Foundation and Seattle City Light to discuss sustainability in an urban environment and energy-related issues respectively. Mr Wong will tour the six-storey Bullitt Center, which was officially opened on Earth Day on April 22, 2013, and was designed to be the greenest commercial and office building in the world. In the evening, Mr Wong will have dinner with board members of the Hong Kong (Greater China) Business Association of Washington.
Mr Wong will conclude his visit and depart for Hong Kong on September 27 (Seattle time).
Ends/Saturday, September 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:00
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