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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 24) led a green tech mission on a visit to Europe. The mission seeks to exchange experience on the development and promotion of green technologies, identify opportunities for co-operation on various green initiatives, and promote the market for green technological and innovative solutions in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.
The mission, consisting of 20 professionals and business representatives from 15 academic, quasi-government bodies and commercial organisations, will visit various cities in Sweden, Denmark, Scotland and England.
On his arrival in Stockholm, Sweden this morning, Mr Yau will first call on the State Secretary to Minister for the Environment, Mr Anders Flanking. Later, he will attend the Stockholm+40 Conference, which aims to bring the international community together to discuss sustainable development and its challenges. Mr Yau will address two sessions at the conference and will then proceed to Copenhagen, Denmark in the evening.
On Wednesday (April 25), Mr Yau and the mission will visit a recycling station and an incineration plant to learn about the city's waste-to-energy technology. To identify opportunities for co-operation in green business, the party will attend a luncheon with top executives from various green organisations co-hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London (HKETO London), Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association.
During their stay in Copenhagen, the mission will attend a meeting with Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster to learn more about cleantech research, development and implementation. Mr Yau will then meet with the Danish Shipowners' Association to hear more about the Fair Winds Charter. Mr Yau will also address a reception for the Danish business sector entitled "Hong Kong: the Gateway to Green Pearl River Delta", co-hosted by the HKETO London and Denmark-Hong Kong Trade Association.
On Thursday (April 26), Mr Yau will proceed to Malmo in Sweden where he will begin with a breakfast meeting with the Mayor of Malmo, Mr Ilmar Reepalu. Mr Yau will then join the mission for a meeting with Malmo companies. In Lund he will call on the Mayor and President of the City Council, Ms Annika Annerby Jansson. He will also visit Lund University and listen to a presentation on two major research facilities that are seeking to achieve sustainable development. Afterwards, he will attend a luncheon hosted by the Mayor and Chairman of the City Executive Committee of Lund, Mr Mats Helmfrid.
Mr Yau will return to Copenhagen, Denmark in late afternoon to pay a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Li Ruiyu, and the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Mr Frank Jensen. He will leave for Edinburgh, Scotland in the evening.
On Friday (April 27), Mr Yau will call on the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Scottish Government, Mr Stewart Stevenson. He will then join the mission on a visit to HydroThane UK and the North British Distillery Company Limited to learn how the link between the anaerobic digestion plant and the distillery creates a green energy source. The group will also tour the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University and the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow to learn more about their research work.
In Cambridge, England on April 30, Mr Yau and the delegates will visit the Cambridge Consultants and Ricardo at Cambridge Science Park and AmeyCespa - leading organisations in innovative product development, clean automotive technology and waste management. They will also attend a working roundtable hosted by Deloitte, one of the founders of Cambridge Cleantech.
On May 1, the party will attend a breakfast meeting hosted by Chatham House, an independent international affairs think-tank and membership organisation, and visit Transport for London to take a look at the new London bus, which uses the latest green diesel-electric hybrid technology. They will also take the opportunity to talk to the local business community about Hong Kong's role as the gateway to the "green" Pearl River Delta during a luncheon hosted by HKETO London.
Mr Yau will leave London for Hong Kong in the evening.
Ends/Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:46
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