http://7thspace.com/headlines/426343/fourth_batch_of_enterprises_commend
ed_as_hong_kong___guangdong_cleaner_production_partners.html
Fourth batch of enterprises commended as Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner
Production Partners
Hong Kong (HKSAR) – The fourth Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner Production
Partners Recognition Scheme presentation ceremony was jointly held by
Hong Kong’s Environment Bureau (ENB) and the Economic and Information
Commission of Guangdong Province (GDEIC) in Guangzhou today (November
20). At the ceremony 136 enterprises were commended as Hong Kong –
Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners, comprising 109 Hong Kong-owned
manufacturing enterprises, three sourcing enterprises and 24
environmental technology service providers.
Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Under Secretary for the
Environment, Ms Christine Loh, said the Cleaner Production Partnership
Programme has been well received by the industries. So far, more than
2,000 funding applications have been approved and about 27,000 people
from enterprises in Guangdong and Hong Kong have participated in various
awareness promotion activities, surpassing the initial targets set for
the Programme.
Ms Loh said, “By implementing cleaner production, enterprises can
support realisation of the vision of green development, which emphasises
energy saving and environmental protection as set out in the National
12th Five-Year Plan. Indeed, it has been a priority area for Hong
Kong-Guangdong regional environmental collaboration to encourage and
facilitate enterprises in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to adopt
cleaner production.
“The Government plans to extend the Programme for another two years.
This will tie in with the work of promoting energy efficiency and
reducing emissions as stated in the National 12th Five-Year Plan, and
further reduce the emission of air pollutants in the PRD region.”
Also attending the ceremony today were the Vice Governor for the
People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Mr Liu Zhigeng, and the
Counsel of the GDEIC, Ms Bi Zhijian.
About 400 representatives from government, trades and industries in both
Hong Kong and Guangdong were also present.
Under the Programme, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), in
conjunction with environmental technology service providers in Hong Kong
and Guangdong, offers professional advice and technical support to Hong
Kong-owned factories in the PRD region to encourage and assist them in
adopting cleaner production technologies and practices. By reducing
emissions and enhancing energy efficiency, participating factories can
contribute to improving regional air quality. The Programme was launched
in April 2008 and its coverage was widened in early 2010 to include the
provision of professional advice and technical support to factories in
the treatment and reduction of effluent discharges.
To further promote cleaner production, the ENB and the GDEIC launched
the Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme
in August 2009 to commend enterprises that pursue and promote cleaner
production. Fifty-one enterprises received commendation in 2009, while
115 and 139 enterprises were commended in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The Scheme has three categories.
“Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)”
recognises Hong Kong-owned factories that have achieved good results in
cleaner production, and encourages them to sustain their efforts.
Sourcing enterprises which have actively encouraged their Hong
Kong-owned factory suppliers to adopt cleaner production are recognised
under “Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Supply
Chain)”. Lastly, environmental technology service providers which have
made commendable efforts in promoting the Programme and providing good
services to Programme participants are recognised as “Hong Kong –
Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Technology Service)”.
More details of the Programme and the Hong Kong – Guangdong Cleaner
Production Partners Recognition Scheme are available on the HKPC’s
cleaner production website: www.cleanerproduction.hk/en_index.asp.