The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, today (November 4), led a delegation to Shenzhen to attend the second meeting in 2025 of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Joint Working Group on Environmental Protection. 
      
     The meeting reviewed the collaborative achievements of the Joint Working Group over the past year. Hong Kong and Shenzhen have strengthened the close collaboration of the Joint Working Group in the past year. Exchanges such as thematic discussions and exchange visits increased by more than half compared to the past. In-depth discussions covered topics including the water ecology of Shenzhen Bay, regional atmospheric environment, ecological conservation, and resources circulation, jointly building a beautiful bay area.
      
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been continuously promoting various measures to improve air quality. The overall air quality in Hong Kong has been improving in recent years, with concentrations of major air pollutants continuously decreasing and remaining at low levels since Hong Kong's return to the Motherland. Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular in Hong Kong, with the number increased to about nine times of that six years ago. Currently, about seven out of every 10 newly registered private cars are electric, and the growth rate is among the highest in the world. With the further development of green transport, Hong Kong's air quality will continue to improve.
      
     On water quality of Shenzhen Bay, through the joint efforts of both sides, a long-term significant improvement trend has been observed since the mid-2000s, with total inorganic nitrogen levels dropping by over 50 per cent compared with the period around Hong Kong's return to the Motherland. 
      
     The progress of carbon inclusivity of both sides was also discussed at the meeting. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the Green$ Electronic Participation Incentive Scheme has over 1.1 million registered users, with an accumulative total of over 120 000 tonnes of recyclables and food waste collected.
      
     On ecological conservation, the HKSAR Government continues to strengthen the protection of the Wetland of International Importance in the Deep Bay area and is actively promoting the construction of the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park in the Northern Metropolis, actively supporting the development of the International Mangrove Center in Shenzhen at the same time. Hong Kong and Shenzhen will continue to exchange experiences on country parks management, public education, and relevant conservation efforts for species such as corals and butterflies, and promote hiking etiquette.

     Representatives of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) shared at the meeting that through distributing promotional leaflets and engaging local and Chinese Mainland social media such as Xiaohongshu to promote safety tips on hiking to visitors and hikers, such as using designated trails, protecting the environment and ecology, avoiding disturbance or harm to wildlife, and "Take Your Litter Home". 
      
     Mr Tse expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of various departments of the Shenzhen Municipal Government. He hoped that both sides will continue the joint efforts under the framework of the Joint Working Group, striving to achieve the dual carbon goals in pollution management and waste management, as well as to have greater achievements in developing biodiversity, building beautiful bays, and expanding environmental technology co-operation and development under the Belt and Road Initiative, continuously achieving new progress and breakthroughs.
      
     The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung; the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui; and representatives from the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the EPD and the AFCD also attended the meeting. 
      
     Mr Tse returned to Hong Kong this evening. 

Ends/Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 23:10

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