Tag Archives: China

     The Government today (June 29) announced the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035, setting out the vision of “Healthy Living‧Low-carbon Transformation‧World Class”, and the challenges, goals and strategies to enhance the air quality of Hong Kong to 2035.

     In March 2013, the Government issued the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong, introducing various policies and measures to tackle the challenges faced by Hong Kong in improving its air quality. The Government published a progress report later in June 2017 and updated the major goals in the Clean Air Plan. 

     After the release of the first Clean Air Plan, the Government has implemented a series of measures to reduce emissions from local electricity generation, vehicles, vessels and more, and collaborated with Mainland authorities in reducing emissions of air pollutants in the region. These efforts have borne fruit. The ambient and roadside concentrations of major air pollutants have dropped substantially and visibility has been vastly improved. All these have brought noticeable health benefits to society and the community in Hong Kong. By 2020, Hong Kong had attained the major goals set out in the progress report in 2017.

     Announcing the new Plan, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said, “The Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 we are releasing today will carry on the past successes to the future, leading Hong Kong to be a more liveable city with air quality on par with major international cities by 2035, and advancing towards the target of meeting in full the ultimate standards of the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines in the long run.”

     The Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 covers the following six major areas:

Green transport

• To promote the use of new energy transportation, continue planning for railway networks and adopt environmentally friendly transport modes in new development areas 

Liveable environment

• To create a liveable environment through city management and planning policies, and embark on a study on the relationship between air quality and health

 
Comprehensive emissions reduction

• To continue implementing measures in emissions reduction from vehicles and vessels, and step up control over the content limits of volatile organic compounds

 
Clean energy

• To carry on reducing emissions from electricity generation and explore at the same time the use of new low-carbon energy such as hydrogen energy and liquefied natural gas

 
Scientific management

• To adopt innovative technology to monitor air quality and release more detailed air quality information to the public

 
Regional collaboration

• To formulate joint regional air pollutant emission reduction targets and strengthen air pollution research and monitoring in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

  
      “In view of the challenges brought by climate change, it has become a global trend to explore the use of the latest green technologies to reduce carbon emissions. We will continue to implement measures to further improve Hong Kong’s air quality, coupled with the review of Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectives every five years to progressively tighten the targets,” Mr Wong continued.
 
     Mr Wong expressed sincere gratitude to different stakeholders for sharing their views on the directions and measures for the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035. He also thanked different policy bureaux and departments for their support and collaboration. Looking ahead, the Government will continue to work closely with different sectors in society and enhance regional collaboration, with a view to improving air quality on a sustained basis and making Hong Kong a more liveable and low carbon world-class city.
 
     The Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 and its leaflet are available on the Environmental Protection Department’s website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/resources_pub/policy_documents/index.html). read more

     The sixth meeting of the Assessment Committee for the Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations, chaired by the Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Dr Raymond So Wai-man, was… read more

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Department of Trade and Industry of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines jointly held a webinar entitled “Reconnect and Reinforce: Hong Kong – Philippines Partnership” today (June 29) to reinforce collaboration and co-operation between both places on the trade, investment, economic and technology fronts.

     Over 550 participants from the business and professional services sectors of both places joined the webinar. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government, Mr Edward Yau, and the Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, Mr Ramon Lopez, spoke at the webinar.

     Mr Yau highlighted that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner for 10 years in a row and sixth largest source of external investment at end-2019, is a close trading partner of the city. With the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic, he said that Hong Kong stands ready to join hands with  ASEAN including the Philippines to contribute to the economic recovery and development in the region with all its strength.

     Mr Yau said that Hong Kong will not only continue to serve as a prime platform and key link for ASEAN to expand their economic footprints and connections with other parts of the world, but also will remain a close partner for ASEAN businesses and entrepreneurs to seek out new markets and embark on new business and investment ventures, especially tapping into the tremendous opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Development.

     He added that the Free Trade Agreement and Investment Agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN, which took full effect in February this year, provide first and foremost a solid framework to pursue free and open trade and investment and closer economic co-operation in the region.
 
     Encouraged by the vibrant start-up ecosystem of the Philippines in recent years, Mr Yau stressed that Hong Kong has much to offer to international start-up founders, including those from the Philippines, with its deep talent pool, improved research and development capabilities, ample funding opportunities and increasingly supportive ecosystem. He urged the companies of the Philippines to make use of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement to tap business opportunities in the Mainland, especially those in the GBA.

     In the ensuing panel discussion session themed “Emerging Stronger with Closer Collaboration and Partnership” moderated by the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, business leaders from both sides shared their insights on what Hong Kong and the Philippines offer to the business and professional services sector to tap the vast business opportunities in the region.

     Today’s webinar is part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s ongoing efforts to work closely with other governments to explore ways to capture business opportunities and enhance people-to-people bonds. Similar government-to-government webinars were organised in 2020 with ASEAN economies, including Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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     Mobile Libraries 3, 4, 10 and 11 will suspend services during designated periods in July for routine maintenance, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 29).     &nbs… read more

     The Government announced today (June 29) the appointment of Mr Cheong Heng-loong as a non-official member of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) on General Business from July 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022.     &n… read more