Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, after attending the launch ceremony for the New Chapter for Glass Bottle Recycling this afternoon (January 10):
 
Reporter: Does the relatively new recycling scheme for electronics and electrical appliances have any flaws? Or any room for improvement? Because there are complaints that people are not getting their products taken away immediately, and that's why the old products are being left on the street. That's not helpful to the scheme.
 
Secretary for the Environment: Firstly, the disposal of the concerned e-waste at the RCPs (refuse collection points) or roadsides actually is not increasing, based on our data collected before and after the (introduction of the) new law. The numbers of the disposed e-waste actually are more or less the same. But, we would like to further promote the new initiative. That means even people are not going to buy any new equipment, there are free services, as long as they can use the hotline, and arrange for the free collection of the old appliances from their premises. I think that there's room for the Government and the community to further promote this type of service.
 
Reporter: But just now, a reporter was asking that whether your bureau will be considering subsidising some recyclers who are interested in taking up the scheme, but may not have the relative required space or equipment. Are you considering subsidising these recyclers or interested parties?
 
Secretary for the Environment: I think there are two points. Firstly, the stakeholders can consider the market situation themselves to decide if they participate in it. Secondly, for the government contractor, we engaged him through the open tender. Certainly, there's room for further consideration by the Government. But, I think the law is still new, that we would like to have more observations and consider the way forward later.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law, visited the Efficiency Office today (January 10) to learn about the work of front-line colleagues who provide the 1823 service, and meet with staff of various grades to exchange views on matters of concern.

     Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Law met with the Commissioner for Efficiency, Ms Olivia Nip, and the directorate staff to get an update on the Office's operation since its re-organisation last year, as well as its work in supporting the Innovation and Technology Bureau to promote the Government's agenda for innovation, technology adoption and public service improvement.

     Mr Law then toured the 1823 Centre in Kowloon Government Offices, where he learnt about the round-the-clock, one-stop service provided by front-line colleagues to the public, including answering general enquiries for a wide range of departments and receiving complaints and suggestions about any government service. 1823, the biggest contact centre in Hong Kong, handled more than 3.7 million calls and 520,000 non-voice contacts, including submissions via email, mobile application and web form, in 2018.

     Mr Law said he was pleased to learn that the 1823 Centre is barrier-free and the Office has been extending appropriate support to colleagues with disabilities, allowing them to unleash their full potential in the job.

     Before concluding his visit, Mr Law met with staff representatives of various grades at a tea gathering to listen to their views on matters that concerned them. He praised the colleagues for their commitment to providing citizen-centric services, and encouraged them to continue to enhance their efforts in the wider adoption of innovation and technology in government services, as well as in upgrading the quality and efficiency of public services in general.

        

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 10) held a launch ceremony for the New Chapter for Glass Bottle Recycling, rolling out the Glass Container Recycling Charter and a series of promotional and publicity activities to further raise public awareness on glass bottle recycling.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that the Government is implementing the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Glass Beverage Containers at full steam and has appointed glass management contractors (GMCs) to undertake collection and treatment services for waste glass containers. Two GMCs (see below) have taken over the previous voluntary glass bottle recycling programmes and further expanded their recycling networks. They have also completed setting up and commissioning new treatment facilities and are providing free glass container collection and treatment services across the territory.

     Mr Wong said, "Overall, following the commencement of GMC services, the total amount of waste glass containers collected in 2018 increased by about 45 per cent compared with 2017. With the full provision of services by the two GMCs, the monthly collection amount has been increasing continually over the past few months. The collection amount in the latest month has more than doubled the monthly average in 2017. There has also been a significant growth in the total number of collection points set up across the territory. The number of collection points serving catering premises has tripled while the number serving the residential sector has increased to over 1 500 locations.

     "The GMCs are set to further increase the collection of waste glass containers, with a view to gradually attaining the overall recovery target of 50 000 tonnes a year, or about half of the amount generated. To achieve this target, it is crucial to have the support and participation of the community. To that end, the EPD has launched the Glass Container Recycling Charter, inviting all interested parties to join as our partners to actively take part in and jointly promote glass container recycling. Today, many associations and organisations from the catering and property management sectors have expressed their support and signed the Charter, committing themselves to introducing and promoting the Charter to their members, and encouraging participation."

     To further arouse public awareness of glass bottle recycling, the EPD has designed a new label for the glass bottle recycling bins, also creating a new logo and a new branding to assist the public in recognising the glass bottle recycling bins. A series of promotional and publicity activities will follow.

     The EPD, through open tender, has appointed two GMCs to undertake collection and treatment services for waste glass containers in the regions of Hong Kong Island (including Islands District), Kowloon and the New Territories. The contracts for Hong Kong Island and the New Territories regions were awarded to Baguio Waste Management and Recycling Limited, which commenced in November 2017. The contract for the Kowloon region was awarded to Hong Kong Glass Reborn Limited, which commenced in May 2018. Parties interested in glass container recycling may approach the respective GMCs to arrange free collection services.

     The GMCs are also required under the contracts to arrange gainful reuse and recycling of waste glass containers after proper processing. Currently, the glass materials recovered after processing are mainly used for production of eco-cement and eco-pavers, while some are exported for recycling into new products. The recycled glass materials can also be used as fill materials in various public works projects. These outlets will be able to fully absorb and utilise glass materials recovered locally.

     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (January 10) reminded residents of public rental housing (PRH) estates to declare truthfully their income and assets.

     A PRH resident, who did not declare her ownership of a domestic property in Hong Kong during the declaration cycle in April 2018, was convicted at the Eastern Magistrates' Court on January 8 and ordered to pay a fine of $40,000.

     In this case, the PRH resident declared during the declaration cycle in April 2018 that she owned a 40 per cent interest in a commercial unit. Subsequent investigation revealed that she had concealed that, during the declaration period, she also owned a domestic property in Hong Kong. The resident was prosecuted by the HD for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance.

     The spokesman said that households should complete their declaration forms accurately, as doing so provides the foundation for the assessment of rent and their eligibility for continuing residence. Before making the declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the declaration forms carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified therein. Otherwise, they may be prosecuted for making a false statement knowingly, contrary to Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months) or for neglecting to furnish information as specified in the declaration forms, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months). 

     In addition, the HD will take action to recover the undercharged rent incurred due to the inaccurate information. According to the revised "Well-off Tenants Policies" endorsed in December 2016, PRH households with domestic property ownership in Hong Kong will be required to vacate their PRH flats, irrespective of their levels of household income or assets.
 

     The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) today (January 10) released Aircraft Accident Preliminary Report 1/2019 in relation to an Air Canada Boeing 777-333ER aircraft (registration mark C-FITW). The underside of the rear fuselage had made contact with the runway surface during a hard landing on runway 07R at Hong Kong International Airport on December 11, 2018.
      
     A spokesperson for the AAIA said that the preliminary report contains information relating to the accident collected up to the time of issue, and must be regarded as tentative.
      
     "The AAIA will continue to collect and study all relevant information in order to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident. More in-depth investigation and analysis have to be conducted before any conclusion can be drawn," the spokesperson said.
      
     The full Aircraft Accident Preliminary Report 1/2019 is available for download from the AAIA webpage (www.thb.gov.hk/aaia/eng/investigation_reports/index.htm).