粵港兩地共享一片天空，改善區內環境是雙方共同的目標。為進一步加強區域環保合作，環境局局長邱騰華於二零零七年九月十二日至十四日訪粤。期間拜會了廣東省副省長林木聲及廣州市副市長蘇澤群，並與廣東省環境保護局、廣東省發展和改革委員會、廣東省經濟貿易委員會及廣州市環境保護局領導舉行會議。雙方同意加強溝通合作，致力改善地區空氣質素，確保粵港兩地共同達致可持續發展。邱局長也參觀了廣州市的李坑生活垃圾焚燒發電廠及麓湖空氣自動監測站，瞭解內地在廢物處理及環境監測方面的科技發展和應用。

Sharing the sky, improving the environment in the region is a common goal for Hong Kong and Guangdong. To strengthen regional environmental cooperation, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Edward Yau visited Guangdong on 12 to 14 September 2007. Mr. Yau called on Mr. LIN Mu Sheng, the Vice Governor of the Guangdong Province and Mr. SU Ze Qun, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou and met senior officials of the Environmental Protection Bureau of Guangdong Province, the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province, the Economic & Trade Commission of Guangdong Province, and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Guangzhou. Both sides agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation to improve the regional air quality and to work towards the sustainable development of both Hong Kong SAR and Guangdong. Mr. Yau also visited the Guangzhou Li-keng Waste-to-Electricity Plant and the Luhu Automatic Air Quality Monitoring Station to understand the development and application of the waste treatment and environmental monitoring technologies in the city.

香港工商界在改善區域環境擔當著重要的角色。部分港資工廠已積極行動，提升其環保表現。環境局局長邱騰華於2007年9月14日參觀了一家位於深圳的港資印刷工廠，瞭解廠方的運作和推行環保管理的工作。廠方通過採用清潔生產，達到節能、減排、降耗和增效的目標。這家工廠的成功經驗說明通過採用良好的作業方法和管理措施、應用先進的技術，企業可以獲益於節省生產成本、改善企業形象，以及滿足市場客戶對生產商日益嚴格的環保要求。

The Hong Kong business community plays an important role in improving the regional environmental quality. Some Hong Kong-invested factories have taken proactive actions to raise their environmental performance. The Secretary for the Environment, Mr. Edward Yau, visited a Hong Kong-invested printing factory in Shenzhen on 14 September 2007 to understand its operation and environmental management efforts. Through adopting cleaner production, the factory has achieved energy saving, reduced emission and consumption, and enhanced productivity. The successful experience of the factory illustrates that, through adoption of good production practices and management measures, application of advanced technologies, enterprises would benefit from reduced production costs, improved corporate image, as well as satisfying the growing customer demands for high environmental performance of their suppliers.

Following is a speech by the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong, at the Hong Kong Construction Association’s Clean-Air Charter Kick-off Ceremony today (August 3) (English only).

Mr Wong, Mr Jones, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to join the distinguished members of the Hong Kong Construction Association in the launch of the HKCA Clean-Air Charter today. The initiative is a clear demonstration of the commitment of the construction sector to reducing pollution. I am also pleased to note that the Environmental Protection Department has a chance to contribute to the formulation of the Charter. This is a valuable exercise as it demonstrates once again the principles of partnership and shared responsibility, which are the cornerstones of Hong Kong in successfully meeting the many challenges that we face in the development process.

The seven Principles of the Charter and the additional Clean-Air Measures provide a sound management framework and practical guidance to the trade in contributing to the community drive for blue sky. The Seven Principles have clearly reminded managers to embed the value of energy efficiency and emissions reduction controls in all aspects of process planning, staff development and result monitoring. The Clean Air Measures are practical and handy tool that address the operational details in the day to day construction activities. They are the products of extensive and full deliberation of the Council members on the subject.

Since I have just touched upon partnership and shared responsibility, I would like to update you on the joint efforts that Hong Kong SAR Government has had with our counterparts in Guangdong in improving regional air quality. You are no doubt aware of the joint commitment of the two Governments to slash emissions of four major air pollutants, namely, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, respirable suspended particulates and volatile organic compounds in the region by 20%-55% by 2010. With the extensive initiatives that we have launched in Hong Kong in past few years to reduce emissions from power plants, vehicular sources, and to tighten up the emission of volatile organic compounds, the local emissions in NOx, RSP and VOC has been decreased by 15%, 36% and 26% in 2005. As regards the SO2, we have also seen a decrease by 11% in 2005 as compared with 2004, though the level still shows a 31% rise when compared with that in 1997. In parallel the Guangdong authorities have taken ambitious measures to improve its energy supply structure, retrofit on power plants, tighten emissions from motor vehicles and start phasing out small power generating units. The two sides have joint hand in operating a regional air quality network, result of which is posted at the websites of EPD and the GDEPB daily. These show the concerted and serious efforts of the two Governments in working towards meeting the targets.

However, nothing of this is complete without you joining our hands. Every single incremental step taken at the corporate and personal level counts towards pollution reduction. Here I would like to appeal to you and your fellow business partners, managers and all members of your workforce to get involved. There are three areas, which have been incorporated in the 11 Clean Air Measures, that may deserve special mention.

The first is to help reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds – or VOCs – by using paints with lower VOC contents. We have pledged with Guangdong to cut VOCs by nearly half by 2010. With effect from 1 April this year, a new legislation prescribing the VOC contents in architectural paints, printing inks and certain consumer goods has come into effect. The new VOC legislation adopts the most advanced control standards of the world currently in force in California. We expect the implementation of the legislation will help reduce about 8,000 tonnes of VOCs, in which 40% will come from architectural paints. The cooperation of the construction sector – a key user of paints – is pivotal to the realization of this objective. We have also just held a seminar with our counterparts in Guangdong earlier this week to brief them on our new legislative regime on VOC.

I am glad to know from local paints suppliers that they are taking every step to get the market prepared for the new law. As environmental concern is gaining more and more recognition globally the paints industry has been undergoing much innovative revolution to produce more environmental products. Paints with low or even zero VOC contents but comparable performance are much more readily available now than a decade before. We can also reduce VOCs by applying paints and solvents more economically and carefully at work sites. Using these greener products can reduce potential hazards at workplace or health risks to workers. The Government can ban bad products or practices by law, but no one can promote good products and practices by market demands more effectively than you. I am sure the faster adoption of these green products will help to get the market ready sooner.

Secondly, I strongly encourage the construction industry to switch from industrial diesel to ultra-low sulphur diesel. ULSD suitable for industrial and commercial use is now generally available in the market. Switching to ULSD will bring an immediate environmental benefit of cutting sulphur dioxide emission by 99% when compared with industrial diesel. ULSD also produces less other environmental nuisances such as black smoke, particulates and nitrogen oxides. The air quality in the vicinity of your operation will improve significantly. Indeed, to set an example, the Government’s marine fleet has switched to ULSD since 2001. Starting from 1 January 2006, the Government has also required all public works projects to use ULSD.

The third area I wish to focus on is what we call “off-road mobile” emission sources, which mainly refer to mobile machinery operating at construction sites. Many construction sites are situated near residential areas and these emissions, given their concentration, pose real nuisance or may even hazard to public health. As small tips, we would urge you to

• maintain and, if need be, replace old machinery regularly;
• install emission reduction devices, such as catalysts, on your machinery;
• go for models that comply with latest overseas emission standards when purchasing new machinery; and of course
• turning off idling machines!

Finally, it is useful to remind ourselves of the important role of Hong Kong businesses in promoting good practices in our neigbour. It has often been pointed out that emissions from commercial and industrial activities in the Pearl River Delta is having a strong and pervasive bearing on Hong Kong’s air quality. With the strong presence of our business sector in the Pearl River Delta, I am sure that your intervention at the corporate management level can help reinforce the work we are taking up with Guangdong at the governmental level. In concrete terms, that means we should adopt the same Clean Air Principles and Measures in your operations in PRD. For pollution knows no boundary; any problem created there must inevitably and eventually be borne by us. As Asia’s world city, Hong Kong aims for a quality environment. The third term SAR Government is determined to improving our air quality, and I invite you to join us in this challenging endeavour.

Thank you.

Ends/Friday, August 3, 2007

商界人士及政府官員於六月三日參與演出「節能上班輕裝騷」，示範多款輕便的服飾。「節能上班輕裝騷」旨在延續去年開展的「藍天行動」，希望進一步鼓勵更多公司和機構讓員工在夏天輕裝上班，減少消耗能源，正視全球暖化問題。

這項活動由環境保護署（環保署）聯同環境保護運動委員會舉辦，為響應二ＯＯ七年世界環境日的全球主題，注視氣候轉變，同時回應市民對空氣污染問題的關注。

「節能上班輕裝騷」開展儀式的主禮嘉賓包括行政長官曾蔭權、環境運輸及工務局局長廖秀冬、外交部駐香港特別行政區特派員呂新華、衞生褔利及食物局局長周一嶽、公務員事務局常任秘書長黃灝玄及環境保護運動委員會主席李宗德。另外，超過三十位總領事及區議會代表也有出席開展儀式以示支持。

參與示範上班輕裝的嘉賓包括廖秀冬、周一嶽、黃灝玄、李宗德、香港總商會主席蔣麗莉、商界環保協會行政總裁譚安德博士、香港工業總會副主席孫啟烈、新西蘭駐港總領事陸德凱（Mr Julian Ludbrook）、芬蘭駐港領事Ms Ulpu Koskinen及印度駐港總領事阮天寵（Mr Lal Duhthlana Ralte）, 在此特別鳴謝縱橫二千集團(G2000 Group) 贊助部份嘉賓的服裝。

「節能上班輕裝騷」電視特輯，已於六月九日晚上九時三十分無線電視翡翠台播出(重溫節目內容請按此)。

On 3 June, business personages and senior government officials paraded along the catwalk in causal business attires. To keep up the momentum of the Action Blue Sky launched last year, the "Cool Biz Fashion Show" aims to further encourage more corporations and institutions to adopt a "dress down" policy in summer, saving energy in the age of global warming.

The "Cool Biz Fashion Show" was organised by the Environmental Protection Department, together with the Environmental Campaign Committee, to tie in with the global theme of the World Environment Day 2007 on climate change and to address local concerns over air pollution.

The launching ceremony was officiated by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang; the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao; the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, Mr Lu Xinhua; the Secretary for Health, Wealth and Food, Dr York Chow; the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Andrew Wong; and the Chairman of the Environmental Campaign Committee, Mr Joseph Lee Chung-tak. More than 30 representatives of the Consul-Generals and District Councils also attended the ceremony to show their support.

Taking the stage in their cool business outfits are Dr Liao; Dr Chow; Mr Wong; Mr Lee; Chairperson of the HK General Chamber of Commerce, Dr Lily Chiang; Chief Executive Officer of the Business Environment Council, Dr Andrew Thomson; Mr Cliff Sun, Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Mr Julian Ludbrook, Consul-General of New Zealand in Hong Kong; Ms Ulpu Koskinen, Consul of Finland in Hong Kong and Mr Lal Duhthlana Ralte, Consul-General of India in Hong Kong. We would like to express special thanks to G2000 Group for sponsoring apparel for some models.

The show was broadcast on TVB Jade on June 9 at 9:30 pm. (Please click here for programme review (Chinese version only))