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The Steering Committee on Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) held its first meeting today (June 18) to discuss the operation of the committee, the overall direction of its work plan and its initial priorities on conservation issues.
The Steering Committee on BSAP was set up in May this year to take forward the pledge by the Chief Executive and to steer the formulation of BSAP for Hong Kong. As pledged by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address announced in January 2013, the Government will take forward the Convention on Biological Diversity and will consult the public in 2013 on the formulation of BSAP.
Chairing the first meeting, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Professor Lam Kin-che, said, "Hong Kong is endowed with a rich diversity of fauna and flora. We need to formulate strategy and action plans for Hong Kong to address the challenges and opportunities relating to our biodiversity through gap identification, goal setting and prioritisation of future research and conservation work. The Steering Committee has been established to advise on appropriate strategies and practicable measures for pursuing the objectives of Hong Kong's biodiversity conservation and set priorities."
The Vice Chairperson of the Steering Committee, the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, said, "The Government is glad to be joined by members including academics, biodiversity experts and representatives from green groups, private and public sectors and relevant government departments in formulating Hong Kong's own city-level BSAP.
"The set-up of the Steering Committee will enable the engagement of a wider group of stakeholders and educating on the concepts of biodiversity conservation across various sectors. Public engagement exercises are also planned for later this year to gather views and aspirations from the general public on the development of BSAP and to enhance their awareness of biodiversity conservation. This is a realisation of an open and participatory approach in developing the BSAP as recommended by the Convention."
The Steering Committee on BSAP was established with a three-tier structure comprising the Steering Committee, three standing Working Groups (namely the Terrestrial Biodiversity Working Group, the Marine Biodiversity Working Group and the Publicity, Education and Sustainable Use Working Group) and various focus groups to be formed on a needs basis. The Steering Committee is chaired by Professor Lam, with the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Loh, as the Vice Chairperson. The Convenors of the three Working Groups are Professor Jim Chi-yung, Professor Nora Tam and Dr Wong Fook-yee respectively.
At its first meeting today, the Steering Committee discussed the operation of the Steering Committee and the Working Groups/Focus Groups, the feedback from the stakeholder engagement sessions held in January this year on BSAP and the guiding principles in the preparation of BSAP. The Steering Committee will continue to discuss relevant issues.
The membership list of the Steering Committee is as follows:
Chairperson
Professor Lam Kin-che
Vice Chairperson
Under Secretary for the Environment
Members
Mr Ruy Barretto
Professor David Dudgeon
Ms Suzanne Gendron
Ms Betty Ho Siu-fong
Professor Jim Chi-yung
Mr Mike Kilburn
Dr Lau Chee-sing
Dr Michael Lau Wai-neng
Ms Sophie Le Clue
Dr Man Chi-sum
Dr Ng Cho-nam
Mr Anthony Vincent Ng Wing-shun
Dr Paul Shin Kam-shing
Professor Nora Tam Fung-yee
Mr Tam Po-yiu
Dr Wong Fook-yee
Professor Rudolf Wu Shiu-sun
Ms Pansy Yau Lai-ping
Mr Paul Zimmerman
Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, with Deputy Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation as alternate member
Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Conservation)
Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (Country and Marine Parks)
Deputy Director of Environmental Protection (2) with Assistant Director of Environmental Protection (Nature Conservation and Infrastructure Planning) as alternate member
Representative from the Development Bureau*
Representative from the Food and Health Bureau*
Representative from the Education Bureau*
Representative from the Planning Department*
Representative from the Lands Department*
*To attend on an as-needed basis
The Convention on Biological Diversity was extended to Hong Kong on May 9, 2011, demonstrating Hong Kong's commitment to join the international community in protecting the natural environment. Although Hong Kong is not a party to the Convention per se, the Government is actively preparing a city-level BSAP for Hong Kong in accordance with the principles and guidelines set out in the Convention and the strategic plan endorsed by the Conference of Parties, taking into account local needs and priorities and with a view to commencing its implementation in 2015. The BSAP will provide guidance on conserving the biodiversity in Hong Kong including a comprehensive stocktaking on the existing biodiversity status and the measures in place for conserving biodiversity, and biodiversity strategies and action plans to prevent further loss of biodiversity and to enhance conservation.
For more information about the BSAP and updates on public engagement events, please visit the BSAP webpage:
www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/con_bsap/con_bsap.html.
Ends/Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:38
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