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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, concluded his trip to Europe in Milan, Italy yesterday (July 10, Milan time) after visiting waste-to-energy plants and food waste recovery facilities in the city.
Mr Wong continued his European trip by visiting Italy following his first leg in France. On his arrival in Milan on July 8 (Milan time), Mr Wong visited a waste-to-energy plant, Silla 2, which was designed to get the optimum energy from waste residues of waste collection which is then used to generate electricity for district heating system.
Later the same day Mr Wong visited a waste-to-energy plant in Brescia. The plant, which is operated by the second-largest electricity company in Italy, is a valuable source of energy for Brescia and was conceived as part of an integrated ecological system for the management of waste, energy and local resources. In the evening, Mr Wong officiated at the opening reception of the Hong Kong Martial Arts Film Retrospective organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels.
On July 9 (Milan time), Mr Wong visited food waste collection system in Milan to learn about municipal solid waste management and recycling in the city. He also paid a visit to Montello SpA, an Italian company which treats organic waste using an anaerobic digestion process. The plant produces biogas for the generation of electricity and thermal energy.
During his stay in Milan, Mr Wong also visited a pair of newly-constructed residential towers with green building certification to see its innovative features. In addition, he took the opportunity to visit Expo Milano 2015, which is taking place under the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life", to see technologies and innovations aimed at a more sustainable future and meet with government officials and environmental industry leaders to exchange views on waste management and energy-related policies as well as green business opportunities.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Wong met with the Regional Minister for Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development of the Lombardy Region, Mrs Claudia Maria Terzi, to exchange views on various environmental protection issues and the promotion of sustainable development in both places.
Mr Wong leaves Milan today (July 11, Milan time) and will arrive in Hong Kong on the morning of July 12.
Ends/Saturday, July 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:12
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