Environmental Protection Department
Encyclopedia
Environmental Protection Department is a department of Hong Kong Government concerning the issues of environmental protection
in Hong Kong
.
Staff and resources from six government departments were deployed to the EPD. The EPD replaced the Environmental Protection Agency (which had been created in 1981 to replace the Environmental Protection Unit, created in 1977) as the main government body charged with tackling pollution. Between 1986 and 31 March 2005 it functioned mainly as an executive department enforcing environmental laws and implementing environmental policies, the latter having been determined by the relevant policy bureau, most recently the then Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
.
On 1 April 2005 however the environmental policy-making function carried out by the then Bureau was subsumed within the EPD and the head of the Environment Branch of the policy bureau took up the dual role of Permanent Secretary for the Environment and Director of Environmental Protection. This significant development has placed the EPD in the position of both determining and implementing environmental policy. Subsequent to the re-organisation of government bureaux on 1 July 2007, a new Environment Bureau was formed overseeing the formulation and implementation of environmental policies.
The department employs about 1 600 staff, about one-quarter of whom are professional staff, half are technical-grade staff and the remainder are administrative and support staff.
Starting from July 2007, the Director of the department is Miss Anissa Wong Sean-yee JP, who also the Permanent Secretary for the Environment in the Environment Bureau
.
Environmental protection
Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the environment, on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. Due to the pressures of population and our technology the biophysical environment is being degraded, sometimes permanently...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
History
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) was created in 1986 to co-ordinate and carry out pollution prevention and control activities.Staff and resources from six government departments were deployed to the EPD. The EPD replaced the Environmental Protection Agency (which had been created in 1981 to replace the Environmental Protection Unit, created in 1977) as the main government body charged with tackling pollution. Between 1986 and 31 March 2005 it functioned mainly as an executive department enforcing environmental laws and implementing environmental policies, the latter having been determined by the relevant policy bureau, most recently the then Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau was formerly a policy bureau of the Government of Hong Kong. It was responsible for:*Environmental protection*Transport*Public works*Waste management...
.
On 1 April 2005 however the environmental policy-making function carried out by the then Bureau was subsumed within the EPD and the head of the Environment Branch of the policy bureau took up the dual role of Permanent Secretary for the Environment and Director of Environmental Protection. This significant development has placed the EPD in the position of both determining and implementing environmental policy. Subsequent to the re-organisation of government bureaux on 1 July 2007, a new Environment Bureau was formed overseeing the formulation and implementation of environmental policies.
Reorganisation in 2007
Following the re-organisation on 1 July 2007 the EPD has adopted a new structure based on three operational divisions, four policy divisions, a cross-boundary division, and a corporate affairs division.Divisions
- The Environmental Infrastructure Division, responsible for planning, developing and managing waste disposal facilities, such as strategic landfills, refuse transfer stations, and a chemical waste treatment centre. The division is also responsible for implementing programmes to reduce waste generation and for regional and local planning for sewerage. The regional and local sewerage planned by this division is implemented by the Drainage Services Department as works agent.
- The Environmental Assessment Division, responsible for reviewing the environmental implications of policies and strategic and local plans, and administering the application of the environmental impact assessment process under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. This division is also responsible for policy formulation, strategic planning and programme development in the area of environmental impact assessment and environmental noiseNoise pollutionNoise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
management.
- The Environmental Compliance Division, responsible for enforcing pollution laws and facilitating business not only to comply with environmental requirements but also going beyond compliance.
- The Air Policy Division, responsible for policy formulation, strategic planning and program development in the field of air quality management.
- The Water Policy Division, responsible for policy formulation, strategic planning and programme development in the area of water qualityWater qualityWater quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
management. This includes policy in relation to sewage treatmentSewage treatmentSewage treatment, or domestic wastewater treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater and household sewage, both runoff and domestic. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove physical, chemical and biological contaminants...
, and strategic planning for sewerage and sewage treatment facilities which are implemented by the Drainage Services Department.
- The Waste Management Policy Division, responsible for policy formulation, strategic planning and program development in the field of waste management. This includes policy for waste reduction and recyclingRecyclingRecycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
.
- The Nature Conservation and Infrastructure Planning Division, responsible for the formulation of nature conservation policy, the development of the Integrated Waste Management Facilities, and also the development of the Pilot Biodegradable WasteBiodegradable wasteBiodegradable waste is a type of waste, typically originating from plant or animal sources, which may be degraded by other living organisms. Waste that cannot be broken down by other living organisms are called non-biodegradable....
Treatment Plant and the Organic Waste Treatment Facilities. Implementation of nature conservation policy however rests with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
- The Cross-Boundary & International Division, responsible for liaison with the Mainland authorities on environmental issues of mutual concern, and also for the development of plans to implement the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutantsStockholm Convention on Persistent Organic PollutantsStockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is an international environmental treaty, signed in 2001 and effective from May 2004, that aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants .- History :...
.
- The Corporate Affairs Division, responsible for the departmental administration support, accounting, resources management, human resources management, information technology and knowledge management, and also provides support to HRM reforms and corporate development.
The department employs about 1 600 staff, about one-quarter of whom are professional staff, half are technical-grade staff and the remainder are administrative and support staff.
Starting from July 2007, the Director of the department is Miss Anissa Wong Sean-yee JP, who also the Permanent Secretary for the Environment in the Environment Bureau
Environment Bureau
The Environment Bureau is an executive agency of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for developing policies in environmental protection, nature conservation; enforcing environmental legislation...
.
Environmental Resource Centre
- Fanling Environmental Resource CentreFanling Environmental Resource CentreFanling Environmental Resource Centre is a resource center under the management of Environmental Protection Department. It is located on 2/F., Government Accommodations,...
- Tsuen Wan Environmental Resource CentreTsuen Wan Environmental Resource CentreTsuen Wan Evironmental Resource Centre is housed in Old House, Hoi Pa Village , in Tak Wah Park, Tak Wah Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.-History:...
- Wan Chai Environmental Resource Centre