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The following is issued on behalf of the Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines:
More than 95 per cent of marine refuse originates from local sources - and especially from shoreline and recreational activities - according to a recent Marine Refuse Study.
With the implementation of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme and extension of the sewerage programmes to cover 93 per cent of the population, marine water quality in Hong Kong has been improving since 2002. Overall compliance with the Water Quality Objectives for Victoria Harbour improved from 50 per cent in 2001 to 77 per cent in 2014. The water quality of the Harbour will further improve after the full implementation of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme Stage 2A later this year. To further enhance measures to reduce marine refuse, the Government's Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines conducted the Marine Refuse Study.
The Study Report released today (April 17) indicates that the marine refuse collected, which accounts for less than 0.5 per cent of municipal solid waste, is mainly a result of littering and poor awareness by members of the community. More than 80 per cent of marine refuse originates from land-based sources, with shoreline and recreational activities being the predominant activity type contributing to marine refuse. Additionally, more than 70 per cent (excluding natural debris) comprises plastic and foam plastic items while non-local refuse, which can be identified via its simplified Chinese character labels, accounts for less than 5 per cent of the marine refuse collected.
Briefing the media on the findings of the study today, the Assistant Director of Environmental Protection, Miss Amy Yuen, said that a three-pronged strategy has been devised to address the local marine refuse problem. The strategy covers reducing overall waste generation at source, reducing the amount of refuse entering the marine environment and removing the marine refuse.
Miss Yuen noted that under the three-pronged strategy, five key measures have been identified and Working Group member departments have formulated specific actions to implement these measures. The five key measures are publicity campaigns, education activities, support measures and facilities to reduce refuse entering the marine environment, stepped-up efforts to remove marine refuse, and engaging the public to report marine littering and refuse problems.
The Study Report also shows that the prevailing wind direction has a marked effect on refuse accumulation, particularly in the Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Southern and Islands Districts. It has identified 27 priority sites prone to refuse accumulation for the relevant Working Group departments to formulate appropriate action.
Miss Yuen noted that four government departments, namely the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Marine Department (MD) will continue to maintain the cleanliness of the marine waters and coastal areas under their jurisdiction and the departments will enhance cleaning frequency at the 27 priority sites.
The Working Group will focus on preventing marine refuse through public education by encouraging the public to be proactive by reducing waste at source, avoiding the use of disposable items and recycling so as to help keep the shorelines clean, Miss Yuen said. In addition, more water fountains will be installed at beaches and other recreational areas so that beach goers and users of the facilities do not need to bring bottled water.
Miss Yuen added that the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will launch a monthly Shorelines Cleanup Day with schools and community groups as co-organisers. Interested individuals can contact the co-organisers to participate in the cleanup events.
Representatives from other Working Group departments, namely the AFCD, the FEHD, the LCSD and the MD, as well as representatives from the Green Council, Hong Kong Cleanup and WWF-Hong Kong joined the briefing today. The three organisations have been collaborating with the Working Group on promoting the clean shorelines message through their community activities and today shared their experience in clean shorelines education and gave updates on their upcoming activities.
The Study Report can be downloaded from the website www.epd.gov.hk/epd/clean_shorelines, where information on clean shorelines activities, such as Shorelines Cleanup Day and other beach cleanup activities, can also be found.
Recognising the importance of promoting public awareness of keeping shorelines clean, the Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines, co-ordinated by the Environment Bureau, was set up in November 2012 to tackle the marine refuse issue through inter-departmental collaboration as well as joint government and community efforts. The Working Group is chaired by the Director of Environmental Protection and its members include representatives from the AFCD, the EPD, the FEHD, the LCSD, the MD, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Drainage Services Department and the Lands Department.
Ends/Friday, April 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:41
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