““The government is clearly not serious The government is clearly not serious about cleaning up the environment in about cleaning up the environment in

Hong Kong.”Hong Kong.”

Lydia Chan (2)Lydia Chan (2)

Cindy Fong (7)Cindy Fong (7)

• ObjectiveObjectiveTo find out Hong Kong government’s seriousneTo find out Hong Kong government’s seriousne

ss in cleaning up Hong Kong’s environment. ss in cleaning up Hong Kong’s environment.

Do you think Hong Kong is clean enough?Do you think Hong Kong is clean enough?

Major pollution problems in Hong Kong:Major pollution problems in Hong Kong:

Air pollutionWater pollution

Water pollution

Land pollution

Land pollution

Types of Solid Waste Disposed of at Landfills in 2005

Domestic waste carries the largest percentage of solid waste disposed of at Domestic waste carries the largest percentage of solid waste disposed of at landfills in 2005. However, this trend has been started since twenty years ago.landfills in 2005. However, this trend has been started since twenty years ago.

Current situation:Current situation:How serious the problem of solid waste isHow serious the problem of solid waste is

Summary of the major types of solid waste disposed Summary of the major types of solid waste disposed of at waste facilities 1986 - 1998 (from EPD)of at waste facilities 1986 - 1998 (from EPD)

According to figures from Friends of the Earth. EverAccording to figures from Friends of the Earth. Every day, the community of Hong Kong disposes about y day, the community of Hong Kong disposes about 17,900 tonnes of solid wastes which 7,500 tonnes ar17,900 tonnes of solid wastes which 7,500 tonnes are domestic waste.e domestic waste.

Domestic waste are wastes produced by Domestic waste are wastes produced by household, daily activities in household, daily activities in institutional premises and refuse institutional premises and refuse collected from public cleansing servicescollected from public cleansing services

Number of landfills in Hong Kong: 3Number of landfills in Hong Kong: 3Total capacity of these three landfills:135 million cubic metresTotal capacity of these three landfills:135 million cubic metres

If population increases, per If population increases, per capita level of domestic waste capita level of domestic waste increases…increases…

The remaining landfill space The remaining landfill space will cater for 6 to years only if will cater for 6 to years only if the situation continuesthe situation continues

South East New Territories West New Territories North East New Territories

Per Capita Disposal Rates of Municipal Solid Waste and Domestic Waste in 1991-2005

FindingsFindingsFindingsFindings

Government’s policy 1: Government’s policy 1:

Source Separation of Domestic WasteSource Separation of Domestic Waste

Waste Recycling Campaign in Housing EstatesWaste Recycling Campaign in Housing Estates

A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong government_1government_1

• Name: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (A trial scheme)Name: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (A trial scheme)

• Duration: Three monthsDuration: Three months

• Content: Content: – Residents will use designated bags for disposing non-recyclable domestic Residents will use designated bags for disposing non-recyclable domestic

waste and will use “food waste bags” to separate domestic waste from waste and will use “food waste bags” to separate domestic waste from food wastefood waste

• Comments: Comments: – The wastes collected in the programme were sent to landfills alsoThe wastes collected in the programme were sent to landfills also

– The process before seemed to be meaningless and this trial program The process before seemed to be meaningless and this trial program seemed not well-plannedseemed not well-planned

Government’s policy 2:Government’s policy 2:Supporting the No Plastic Bag DaySupporting the No Plastic Bag Day

A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong government_2government_2

• Name: No Plastic Bag Day (supported by the government financially)Name: No Plastic Bag Day (supported by the government financially)

• Duration: The first Tuesday of each monthDuration: The first Tuesday of each month

• Content: Content: – Consumers are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags or to donate Consumers are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags or to donate

$0.5 for each plastic bag they ask for on that day$0.5 for each plastic bag they ask for on that day

• Comments: Comments: – Encouraged citizens to bring their own bags and reduce the number of Encouraged citizens to bring their own bags and reduce the number of

plastic bags. plastic bags. – It increased the awareness of using less plastic bag as to protect the It increased the awareness of using less plastic bag as to protect the

environment.environment.– Idea of No Plastic Bag Day should be expanded so that the number of Idea of No Plastic Bag Day should be expanded so that the number of

plastic bags disposed in landfills can be further reduced.plastic bags disposed in landfills can be further reduced.

Government’s policy 3:Government’s policy 3: Fixed penalty of $1500 for Littering Fixed penalty of $1500 for Littering

A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong A. Series of policies made by the Hong Kong government_3government_3

• Name: A fixed penalty of $1500 for LitteringName: A fixed penalty of $1500 for Littering

• Duration: Started from 24th June 2003Duration: Started from 24th June 2003

• Content: Content: – Anyone who commits such offers as littering, spitting, unauthorized Anyone who commits such offers as littering, spitting, unauthorized

display of bills and posters, or fouling of streets by dog faeces in public display of bills and posters, or fouling of streets by dog faeces in public places in Hong Kong shall be liable to a fixed penalty of HK$1,500. places in Hong Kong shall be liable to a fixed penalty of HK$1,500.

– Seven departments of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Seven departments of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government are responsible for enforcing this fixed penalty system.government are responsible for enforcing this fixed penalty system.

• Comments:Comments:– An average of 2000 fixed penalty notices is given to citizens each month. An average of 2000 fixed penalty notices is given to citizens each month.

In certain extent, this policy is effective in deterrent citizens not to throw In certain extent, this policy is effective in deterrent citizens not to throw rubbish on the streets. rubbish on the streets.

– the amount of rubbish on streets is still in a great numberthe amount of rubbish on streets is still in a great number– citizens would repeat in committing the policy, indicating the enforcement citizens would repeat in committing the policy, indicating the enforcement

was not enough. was not enough. – some citizens are uncooperative with the enforcement officers. some citizens are uncooperative with the enforcement officers. – the government may employ more enforcement officers to enhance the the government may employ more enforcement officers to enhance the

effectiveness of this policy.effectiveness of this policy.

B. Cooperation between internal departments of the B. Cooperation between internal departments of the Environmental Protection Department Environmental Protection Department

• Even though policies are made and facilities are Even though policies are made and facilities are developed, without education, desirable results cannot be developed, without education, desirable results cannot be achievedachieved

• Use education as a means to arouse citizens’ awareness Use education as a means to arouse citizens’ awareness

of environmental protectionof environmental protection

• Citizens would not have the initiative to cooperate with Citizens would not have the initiative to cooperate with government’s policies without knowing the reason for government’s policies without knowing the reason for protecting the environment.protecting the environment.

C. Successful measures carried out by C. Successful measures carried out by the overseas governmentsthe overseas governments

1/ Taiwan1/ Taiwan

• Make use of kitchen wastes in compost or change them Make use of kitchen wastes in compost or change them into organic soil to be resold laterinto organic soil to be resold later

-> similar measures will be suitable in Hong Kong-> similar measures will be suitable in Hong Kong

• The Taipei government requires all households to The Taipei government requires all households to separate wastes into different plastic bags every day separate wastes into different plastic bags every day

->those who produce more waste have to buy larger plastic ->those who produce more waste have to buy larger plastic bag of higher price to encourages citizens to produce bag of higher price to encourages citizens to produce less waste.less waste.

C. Successful measures carried out by C. Successful measures carried out by the overseas governmentsthe overseas governments

2/ Singapore2/ Singapore

• ““National Recycling Programme” National Recycling Programme”

-> To provide residents in HDB flats and landed estates -> To provide residents in HDB flats and landed estates with recycling services with recycling services

-> Recycling rate reached a new high of 51% in 2006, up -> Recycling rate reached a new high of 51% in 2006, up from 40% in 2000. from 40% in 2000.

-> Waste disposed off in Singapore has decreased from -> Waste disposed off in Singapore has decreased from a peak of 7,600 tons per day in 2000 to 7,000 tons per a peak of 7,600 tons per day in 2000 to 7,000 tons per

day in 2006day in 2006. .

RecommendationsRecommendationsRecommendationsRecommendations

1.1. Better education Better education

• A long term solution to help increasing the A long term solution to help increasing the awareness of pubicawareness of pubic

• To teach public and the younger generation To teach public and the younger generation about the appropriate attitude in consuming about the appropriate attitude in consuming resources and changes their perceptionsresources and changes their perceptions

• To To promote the needs and advantages in promote the needs and advantages in keeping Hong Kong clean keeping Hong Kong clean

22. Better cooperation between . Better cooperation between government departmentsgovernment departments

• To increase effectiveness and effeminacy To increase effectiveness and effeminacy in carrying out policies or organizing in carrying out policies or organizing campaigns.campaigns.

3. Better cooperation between the 3. Better cooperation between the government and green groupsgovernment and green groups

• To share their points of view towards policies and include To share their points of view towards policies and include different opinionsdifferent opinions

the policies can be more comprehensive and fulfill the human- oriethe policies can be more comprehensive and fulfill the human- oriented principlented principle

• To organize activities or campaigns together (e.g. No PlaTo organize activities or campaigns together (e.g. No Plastic Bag Day )stic Bag Day )

achieve the purpose of raising the awareness of the public in cleaniachieve the purpose of raising the awareness of the public in cleaning Hong Kong ng Hong Kong

4. Legislation 4. Legislation

• To improve situation in short term Citizens change behaviours to avoid being punished Effective in lessening the impact of pollution on the environment

• Easier for the government to carry out more strategies related to environmental protection

Necessary for the citizens to contribute their supports and efforts Impossible to protect the environment just with the policies carried out by

the government.

ConclusionConclusion

• Hong Kong government is passive and conservative in Hong Kong government is passive and conservative in carrying measures to solve the problem of land pollution carrying measures to solve the problem of land pollution in Hong Kong. in Hong Kong.

not active in promoting the idea of environmental not active in promoting the idea of environmental protection among citizens protection among citizens

->Advertisements are not frequent and lead to failure of ->Advertisements are not frequent and lead to failure of campaigns. campaigns.

hesitant to have measures that have great influence on hesitant to have measures that have great influence on the current situation because of the pressure that it may the current situation because of the pressure that it may be blamed or criticized by citizensbe blamed or criticized by citizens

->not willing to take the lead and make great changes.->not willing to take the lead and make great changes.

ConclusionConclusion

willing to make Hong Kong a better place to live in and is willing to make Hong Kong a better place to live in and is willing to clean it up, willing to clean it up,

->but, policies or campaigns are not as effective as expecte->but, policies or campaigns are not as effective as expected due to problems in cooperation between internal depard due to problems in cooperation between internal departments of the Environmental Protection Department, (e.tments of the Environmental Protection Department, (e.g., the trial Municipal Solid Waste program )g., the trial Municipal Solid Waste program )

government can take the successful measures which are government can take the successful measures which are carried out by other countries as a referencecarried out by other countries as a reference

-> can improve the situation and alleviate the problems by -> can improve the situation and alleviate the problems by putting more efforts and resources in carrying out measuputting more efforts and resources in carrying out measures and promoting the proper attitude about treating wastres and promoting the proper attitude about treating waste among the public. e among the public.

Discussion Discussion Discussion Discussion

Discussion Questions Discussion Questions

1.1. What can the students do to help to keep Hong Kong What can the students do to help to keep Hong Kong clean?clean?

2.2. If the Municipal Solid Waste Scheme is carried out in If the Municipal Solid Waste Scheme is carried out in Hong Kong, do you think that it is an effective way? Hong Kong, do you think that it is an effective way? Please explain.Please explain.

3.3. Suggest reasons why environmental problems exist in Suggest reasons why environmental problems exist in Hong Kong.Hong Kong.

4.4. Why is it necessary to protect our environment?Why is it necessary to protect our environment?

5.5. Apart from land pollution, how do you feel about the Apart from land pollution, how do you feel about the other pollution problems in Hong Kong?other pollution problems in Hong Kong?

1.1. What can the students do to help to keep Hong Kong What can the students do to help to keep Hong Kong clean?clean?

2.2. If the Municipal Solid Waste Scheme is carried out in If the Municipal Solid Waste Scheme is carried out in Hong Kong, do you think that it is an effective way? Hong Kong, do you think that it is an effective way? Please explain.Please explain.

3.3. Suggest reasons why environmental problems exist in Suggest reasons why environmental problems exist in Hong Kong.Hong Kong.

4.4. Why is it necessary to protect our environment?Why is it necessary to protect our environment?

5.5. Apart from land pollution, how do you feel about the Apart from land pollution, how do you feel about the other pollution problems in Hong Kong?other pollution problems in Hong Kong?