環境及生態局局長出席第二十屆國際環保博覽開幕典禮致辭
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尊敬的于副部長（國家生態環境部副部長于會文）, Sophia（香港貿易發展局總裁張淑芬）, excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. Let me begin by saying a few words in Putonghua.
各位嘉賓，早上好！
我代表香港特別行政區政府歡迎各位出席第二十屆國際環保博覽開幕禮，並特別感謝中央政府及各省市，東盟（東南亞國家聯盟）以及「一帶一路」國家政府代表到來參加並大力支持這年度環保盛事。
我很高興來自不同地方的政府、商界以及業界人士可以共聚一堂，分享交流綠色創科經驗及技術，為建設零碳未來作出貢獻。
It is my great pleasure to welcome you all today for the opening of the 20th Eco Expo Asia - a remarkable milestone in Hong Kong's journey towards sustainability. Over the past two decades, the Eco Expo Asia has evolved into a leading platform for innovation, knowledge exchange and partnership in tackling global environmental challenges with tremendous support from all over the world. We have brought together delegations from various provinces and cities on the Chinese Mainland, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as well as Belt and Road countries joining this signature annual environmental trade event to strive for a sustainable future.
In the global journey towards sustainability, Hong Kong serves as a "super connector". With our unique position as an international city within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and a bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the world, Hong Kong brings together talent, technology, and capital to foster collaboration and scale up green innovation.
To advance our commitment to promoting participation in green co-operation, I am pleased to announce today that the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will sign a co-operation agreement on jointly setting up a Belt and Road green development co-operation platform in Hong Kong. This platform will connect international environmental co-operation networks and facilitate technology exchanges and transfers of solutions among Belt and Road countries. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its support for this collaborative initiative, and to our partner, the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition.
Quality training is essential for talent growth. We will establish a Belt and Road sustainable green development training centre in 2026 in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, IHE Delft (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education) and local bodies to provide high-quality environmental training for professionals from Belt and Road countries, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. The Centre will serve as a hub in the international sustainable development network, nurturing talent and supporting the exchange of green technologies across Belt and Road economies. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IHE Delft to establish, under the Centre, the Global Sanitation Graduate School Regional Hub East Asia in Hong Kong next year, positioning Hong Kong as a leading gateway for cutting-edge environmental training and global partnerships.
The theme of this year's Expo is "Green Innovations for Carbon Neutrality", it reflects both the urgency as well as the opportunity of our time. Climate change remains an urgent global challenge that demands creativity, co-operation and commitment. Green innovations, from renewable solutions to smart city green ideas, hold the key to accelerating our transition towards a net-zero future.
To tie in the country's dual carbon targets, Hong Kong is firmly committed to reaching carbon neutrality before 2050 with four key areas of focus: net-zero electricity generation, green transport, green buildings and waste reduction. Hong Kong is making good progress to meet this target. Our carbon emissions peaked in 2014, and compared to the peak, our carbon emissions today has been reduced almost 30 per cent already. Our carbon emissions per capita is only about one quarter of the United States, and about 60 per cent of that of the European Union.
Of course, the journey to achieving carbon neutrality cannot go without new energy solutions and green technologies. The Hong Kong Government is committed to support local development of green technologies to promote the commercialisation of green I&T (innovation and technology) outcomes. Let me share with you two inspiring examples from the city. A local company plans to establish a factory using recycled plastic to produce acoustic metamaterials, initially processing 3 500 tonnes of household plastic annually, doubling to 7 000 tonnes within five years. Another local company is setting up a production line using recycled materials like tiles and glass to create electricity-free cooling products, promoting the circular economy and sustainable productivity. You are most welcome to visit their booth, which is right next to the Hong Kong Government booth, to learn more about their stories.
Apart from these, we also support development of the sustainable aviation fuel value chain, launching of hydrogen trial projects in different areas, market development of technologies for battery-swapping electric vehicles and automated battery-swapping stations, district cooling systems, and promotion of carbon reduction in existing buildings.
China stands at the forefront of global green innovation and industrial transformation. With the support from the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, we are co-organising a technical visit to Hunan province for our Belt and Road delegations. This city's international connectivity ensures that Chinese green innovations can be deployed, scaled and commercialised globally, amplifying their impact well beyond our borders.
Ladies and gentlemen, bringing together policy makers, innovators, investors and businesses, this Expo exemplifies the power of collaboration - helping governments and enterprises transform groundbreaking technologies and strategic ambitions into concrete progress for carbon neutrality.
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as well as all exhibitors and participants for making this Expo a global showcase of green leadership. Let us continue to work together to drive the world through the low carbon green transition to a better world for our children.
I wish the Expo every success, and to all of you, good health, good business, and a happy stay in Hong Kong. Thank you.
完
2025年10月28日（星期二）
香港時間14時38分
香港時間14時38分