Hong Kong and Guangdong strengthen co-operation in cleaner production to improve regional environmental quality (with photos)
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The fourth meeting of the JWGCP was co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Vice Director-General of GDEIC, Mr He Rong, to discuss and review the work progress in 2017.
At today's meeting, the JWGCP also agreed on the 2018 work plan, which focuses on the continuous promotion of the use of cleaner production technologies to reduce volatile organic compounds by relevant industries and the joint implementation of the Scheme. In addition, both sides will promote the adoption of cleaner production technologies for energy saving by high energy consumption industries, and encourage Hong Kong-owned enterprises to participate in training related to acceptance procedures for cleaner production audits and undertaking cleaner production audits.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Environment Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Trade and Industry Department and the Innovation and Technology Commission of the HKSAR; and by representatives of GDEIC, the Environmental Protection Department and the Science and Technology Department of Guangdong Province.
The ninth presentation ceremony for the Scheme was also held in Hong Kong this afternoon. This year, a total of 184 enterprises were commended as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners to recognise their efforts in pursuing cleaner production. Of these, 87 and 79 Hong Kong-owned manufacturing enterprises were commended as Excellent Partners and Partners respectively. Other commended enterprises included two sourcing enterprises and 16 environmental technology service providers.
Officiating at today's ceremony were the Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR, Mr Wong Kam-sing; the Director-General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Resources Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Mr Gao Yunhu; and the Vice Director-General of GDEIC, Mr He Rong. Also present were over 200 representatives from the Hong Kong and the Guangdong governments, as well as members of trades and industries and enterprises of both places.
Hong Kong and Guangdong have been jointly promoting cleaner production to tackle environmental pollution in the region. By adopting cleaner production, enterprises can improve their environmental performance and reduce pollutant emissions in addition to increasing their economic benefits through savings in energy consumption and waste reduction.
The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme (the Programme) was launched by the EPD in collaboration with GDEIC in 2008, with more than 2 800 funding applications approved to date. Both sides jointly launched the Scheme in 2009 to encourage enterprises to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices by commending enterprises that pursue and promote cleaner production.
More details of the Programme and the Scheme are available on the cleaner production website: www.cleanerproduction.hk/en_index.asp.
Ends/Friday, October 27, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:15
Issued at HKT 16:15
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