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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and a delegation of the Steering Committee on the Promotion of Green Building, today (May 16) started their visit in Singapore to learn about its experience in promoting energy efficiency and green building.
Mr Wong said that today's visit and exchange with counterparts on efforts to promote green building have provided useful reference for Hong Kong in fostering a sustainable built environment in the urban setting.
In the morning, Mr Wong and the delegation first visited the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in Singapore where they were briefed on its work and particularly its Green Mark Scheme, which promotes sustainable design, construction, management and operation practices in new and existing buildings.
They then toured the Zero Energy Building (ZEB), which is retrofitted from an existing building and produces enough renewable energy to run itself, as suggested by its name. The ZEB incorporates a combination of low carbon and green building technologies and related innovative designs.
In the afternoon, Mr Wong and the delegation called on the President of Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), Mr Ng Eng Kiong, to learn about the Council's experience in promoting green buildings and products through the private-public sector partnership.
Afterwards, the party toured various buildings and facilities with green certification, namely the Bosch South East Asia Regional Headquarters, an office-cum-light industry building; the Gardens by the Bay; and PARKROYAL on Pickering, all of which have won BCA's Green Mark Platinum - the authority's highest rating.
Mr Wong and the delegation will continue their visit tomorrow (May 17) before returning to Hong Kong in the evening.
The Government set up the inter-departmental Steering Committee on the Promotion of Green Building in January this year. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary for the Environment and its members comprise representatives of the relevant bureaux and departments. The Steering Committee acts as the central co-ordinating body to promote green building in Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, May 16, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:51
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