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Following is a question by the Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

At present, most of the food containers used for serving lunch ordered by whole-day primary school students through their schools are made of styrofoam. As styrofoam waste causes environmental pollution, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether it has estimated the amount of such styrofoam containers discarded by schools each year;

(b) whether it has estimated the average amount of such styrofoam containers to be discarded each year when whole-day primary schooling is fully implemented in the 2007-2008 academic year; and

(c) whether schools will be requested to encourage students and to require lunch suppliers to use environmentally-friendly food containers?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) According to the Environmental Protection Department, 110 tons of styrofoam waste were discarded at landfills in Hong Kong last year, and of which 80 tons were styrofoam containers. However, the Government does not have further information as to how many of these styrofoam containers were discarded by schools.

In 1996, the Education Department conducted a survey of lunch arrangements adopted by all whole-day primary schools in Hong Kong. The findings showed that about 47% of students in these schools ordered lunch-boxes. However, the survey did not collect any statistics on the number of lunch-boxes which were made of styrofoam.

(b)&(c) There is not sufficient information for the Government to estimate the number of styrofoam containers to be discarded by schools each year when whole-day primary schooling is fully implemented by the 2007-2008 academic year. Nevertheless, the Government will request schools and appeal to food suppliers not to use styrofoam food containers as far as possible.

Indeed, the Education Department issued a "Guidelines on Meal Arrangement in Schools" to all schools in 1996. The guidelines encourage parents to prepare lunch for their children and to help them develop a healthy and hygienic dietary habit. In 1997, the Education Department also issued letters to all schools, reminding them of the need to protect the environment and, in the interests of students' and teachers' health, to request food caterers and school tuck shop operators not to use styrofoam food containers.

The Education Department has been fostering environmental education at all levels in schools. A "Guidelines on Environmental Education in Schools" issued by the Curriculum Development Council sets out detailed suggestions on the promotion of environmentally-friendly behaviour in schools, which include discouraging the use of disposable utensils like styrofoam containers and wooden chopsticks. Seminars and experience-sharing sessions on environmental protection issues are jointly organised by the Education Department, other government departments and green groups on a regular basis for primary and secondary schools. The main contents of these sessions include waste disposal.

In concert with other relevant departments and organisations, the Education Department will continue to step up publicity and promote environmental education in schools.

End/Wednesday, November 11, 1998

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