104 Hong Kong-owned enterprises commended as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (with photos)
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     At the fifth Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme presentation ceremony jointly held by Hong Kong's Environment Bureau (ENB) and the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province (GDEIC) in Hong Kong today (October 29), 104 enterprises were commended as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners to recognise their efforts in promoting cleaner production.

      Under the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme (the Programme), more than 2 100 funding applications have been approved so far. The enterprises commended as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners today comprise 85 Hong Kong-owned manufacturing enterprises, three sourcing enterprises and 16 environmental technology service providers.

     Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Under Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, said it has been a priority for Hong Kong-Guangdong regional environmental collaboration to encourage and facilitate enterprises in the region to adopt cleaner production. Through effective and viable modes of cleaner production, enterprises not only improve their environmental performance, but also increase their economic benefits.

     She noted that the Programme ties in with the work of promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions under the National 12th Five-Year Plan, and further reduces the emission of air pollutants in the PRD region.

     Also attending today's ceremony were the Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Mr Su Bo; the Director-General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Resources Utilization of MIIT, Mr Zhou Changyi; and the Vice Director of the GDEIC, Mr Lin Weichao. About 200 representatives from government, trades and industries in both Hong Kong and Guangdong were also present.

     The ENB and the GDEIC jointly launched the recognition scheme in 2009 to commend enterprises that pursue and promote cleaner production. There are three categories of recognition, namely (a) Manufacturing, which recognises Hong Kong-owned factories that have achieved good results in cleaner production; (b) Supply Chain, which recognises sourcing enterprises that have actively encouraged their Hong Kong-owned factory suppliers to adopt cleaner production; and (c) Technology Service, which recognises environmental technology service providers that have actively participated in the Programme. More details of the Programme and the recognition scheme are available on the cleaner production website: www.cleanerproduction.hk/en_index.asp.

Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:03

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