In support of the Government's drive to implement
green management, this report sets out Information Services Department's
green performance in 2000 and the green initiatives in 2001.
2. The Information
Services Department is committed to ensuring that government's Public
Relations and information policies, both locally and overseas, are
implemented in an environmentally responsible manner. Throughout
the year of 2000, we adopted the following policies in meeting our
environmental goal :-
3. Through the department's continuous effort
in promoting green management in our workplace, the following achievements
were made in various environmental aspects in 2000:
Environmental Aspects
|
Measures
|
Performance in 2000
|
A. Use of Energy and Material
|
Energy
|
All officers are requested to comply with
the energy conservation policy of switching off lights and
air-conditioners whenever offices are not in use. Routine
checks are conducted.
|
Effective compliance.
|
Material
|
(i) Measures are taken to economize in the
use of paper. This includes using blank side of used paper
for drafting, printing on both sides of paper and reusing
envelopes, etc.
|
Effective compliance.
|
(ii) All officers are reminded to maximize the
use of the Internet and e-mail facilities for seasonal greetings.
The Internet Resource Centre has, as in previous years,arranged
for electronic Christmas cards for use by Government officials
with a view to reducing the need for paper Christmas cards.
|
Effective compliance.
|
(iii) Arrangement is made for members of the
public to place order for Government publications by electronic
means through the Internet, in addition to fax and mail.
|
About 50% of the orders for Government publications were
received by electronic means in 2000.
|
(iv) Upon the uploading of the e-Gazette on
the Government web-site on 8 December 2000, the number of
printed copies of Government Gazette has been substantially
reduced.
|
The number of printed copies of Government Gazette
was reduced from 4,000 in 1999 to 2,200 (45%) in 2000.
|
(v) The Hong Kong Annual Report is produced
in electronic format to reduce the number of printed version.
|
The number of printed copies of Annual Report was reduced
from 27,000 in 1999 to 14,000 (48%) in 2000.
|
(vi) A Digital Photo System was introduced in
June 1997. News photographs are distributed to news organisations
and other users in digital format.
|
The number of printed copies of news photographs
was reduced from 9,492 in 1998 to 1,082 (89%) in 2000.
|
(vii) A computerised personnel record system
is implemented to reduce the need for printing and copying
of staff records.
|
Effective compliance.
|
(viii) High speed scanners are installed for
scanning large quantity of documents.
|
About 60,000 pages of documents are scanned
into electronic format and sent to 10 overseas offices and
Beijing Office through email every year.
|
(ix) An electronic distribution system is
set up to facilitate information access and minimize the need
for photocopying.
|
Fax server is now used for receiving and re-distributing
fax documents in electronic format.
|
B. Pollution Prevention
|
Air-quality
|
(i) Random checks are conducted to ensure
the implementation of Government's Smoke-free Workplace
Policy.
|
Full compliance.
|
(ii) All drivers are regularly reminded of
the need to switch off engines of cars while waiting.
|
Full compliance.
|
Waste
|
(i) Paper waste is collected by GSD's contractor
regularly.
|
In 2000, 37,642kg of paper waste was collected.
|
(ii) Used printer cartridges were collected
for recycling.
|
330 used printer cartridges were collected in 2000 and sent
to the Post Office. $4,329 was donated to Sowers Action under
the Recycling Campaign.
|
(iii) Used plastic film containers are collected
by a private firm for recycling.
|
About 6,000 plastic film containers were collected
for recycling in 2000.
|
Hazardous waste management
|
(i) Chemical waste emitted in the course of
photo-processing is properly contained and stored.
|
Arrangement has been made to comply with the
Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation.
|
(ii) The waste is collected by EPD's
contractor for disposal. |
The contractor has been requested to dispose
of chemical waste in an environmentally safe manner.
|
(iii) Regular site inspections are conducted
to ensure proper handling of hazardous waste.
|
Full compliance.
|
Purchasing |
(i) Wider use of green products, eg. recycled photocopying
paper, alkaline batteries and refillable ball-pens, etc. is
adopted in the office.
|
Green products are widely accepted by users.
|
(ii) New equipment purchased are recognized
energy efficient models.
|
Conscious assessment and judgement on environmental friendliness
and energy efficiency was made for all equipment procurement.
|
C. Management Action/Initiatives on Environmental
Improvement
|
Green Management Initiatives Implemented
|
Green management scheme
|
Each Division has nominated an officer to be
the Green Management Co-ordinator who is responsible for gauging
staff's views on environmental improvement, relaying views
to management and conducting regular checks and reviews on
progress of green housekeeping measures implemented.
|
Close liaision has been maintained between management
and the green management co-ordinators. Progress of green
housekeeping action plans was highly satisfactory in 2000.
|
Environmental policy
|
Departmental management, in consultation with
staff, has developed an environmental policy. The policy has
been implemented smoothly and is kept under regular review.
|
The environmental policy was first introduced
in December 1999. The Policy Statement is circulated regularly
and made available on the Intranet for staff's information.
|
D. Education and Training
|
Training
|
Environmental audit training is arranged for
staff in the Photo Section to equip them with knowledge on
handling chemical waste discharged in the course of photo-processing.
|
All technicians handling chemical waste
attended related training.
|
Green practice guideline/information for
staff
|
Departmental circulars on energy conservation,
economy in the use of paper and other environmental protection
matters are circulated to all staff periodically and placed
on the Lotus Notes Bulletin Board for easy access and re-circulation.
|
Continual effort is made on dissemination information
to enhance environmental consciousness.
|
4. Looking ahead, the department will keep up its
momentum to promote and implement green management in our workplace.
The following green initiatives have been/will be implemented:
5. If you have any suggestion or points to make on this
report, you can telephone, call at or write to the Departmental
Secretary (Telephone No. 2842 8780, Fax No. 2868 5609, internet
e-mail address ghychu@isd.gcn.gov.hk).