Latest news with #TseChin-wan
HKFP
08-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong public does not want waste charging scheme implemented ‘for now,' environment chief says
The Hong Kong public does not want the government to implement the waste charging scheme 'for now,' the city's environment chief has said. In an interview with the government-funded broadcaster RTHK, aired on Tuesday, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said most residents contacted by the government had expressed opposition to bringing back the waste charging scheme at this point in time. In April last year, the government indefinitely delayed the enforcement of the Municipal Solid Waste Charging scheme, which was originally planned to come into force last August, following a public backlash and a trial run that saw limited success. 'Our preliminary public opinion research shows that most residents do not want to push forward the scheme again for now,' Tse said in Cantonese. 'But we think it is an important issue, and we hope to gather more opinions before reporting' to the Legislative Council, he added. The government has set a goal to achieve 'zero landfill' by 2035. Two incinerators are being built, which the government says will be the main facilities for waste management in the future. Tse said the first incinerator – the I·PARK1, located on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau in Hong Kong's southwestern waters – would be gradually put into use towards the end of this year. I·PARK1 will be capable of processing 3,000 tonnes of waste per day, Tse said. When the second incinerator is completed, the two facilities could process up to 9,000 tonnes of waste each day, he added. A tender for the second incinerator – located in Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun, and expected to be completed in the early 2030s – closed last month. However, even with the two incinerators, Tse said, the city still needs to reduce waste by over 1,000 tonnes per day in order to achieve zero landfill. The latest official figures show that, in 2023, Hong Kong produced on average of 10,884 tonnes of municipal waste each day. If the amount of waste could be reduced to under 9,000 tonnes per day, there would be no need to build a third incinerator, Tse said. Second phase of plastic ban In the RTHK interview, the environment chief also said authorities would begin the second phase of a plastic ban in the next couple of months to phase out the use of plastic food containers. Tse said the enforcement would not be strict from the beginning to avoid a public backlash. Instead, authorities would encourage the transition and monitor alternative food containers on the market, he said. Hong Kong banned single-use plastic tableware in April last year in the first phase of a wider plastic ban. The second phase is expected to come into force this year. Under the government's policy, the sale and distribution of multipack rings, tablecloths, and plastic-stemmed dental floss will also be prohibited.
RTHK
08-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Waste charging scheme still under review: minister
Waste charging scheme still under review: minister The government says society is inclined against resurrecting the waste charging scheme at the moment, but not final decision has been made. Photo: AFP No final decision has been made on Hong Kong's Municipal Solid Waste Charging scheme, the environment chief says, as the government intends to gather more public opinion before charting a path forward. Tse Chin-wan also confirmed that no timeline has been set to broaden a regulatory regime against disposable plastic products, although related industries will be invited to take part in a pilot scheme on a voluntary basis. Originally slated for implementation last August, the waste charging initiative was shelved indefinitely. In an interview with RTHK, Tse acknowledged calls in society to put off the plan at the moment, but noted similar schemes have been implemented around the world. "It certainly has its value; otherwise, so many countries wouldn't be adopting it. Therefore, I think we should be more careful and cautious in considering whether we should push it or not," he said. "We believe this is an important issue, so I hope to gather more opinions before we make a decision." While the waste charging scheme was pushed back, a ban against disposable plastic products went ahead as scheduled. Phase one, which included a ban on polystyrene products, plastic cutlery and straws, took effect in April 2024. Phase two, which will see the ban extended to plastic food containers, was "tentatively set for 2025", according to a government statement. Tse said authorities have been in touch with the food and beverage sector and tableware manufacturers to source alternatives, such as environmentally-friendly lunch boxes and soup bowls. He admitted some alternative products don't perform well, but felt that instead of dragging its feet on the matter, the trade should be encouraged to pick products which suit their needs. "We cannot enforce this by law, because it then becomes mandatory. We will encourage the trade to use as many alternative products as possible, with a trial scheme to come in the next month or two," he said. "It's not compulsory. We'll then find out which products are useful, and also receive feedback regarding products which are not good enough." Tse added that in promoting environmental policies, the government will seek to minimise the impact on economic development, citizens and industries.
HKFP
23-06-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Gov't resources must not fall into the hands of ‘non-patriots,' Hong Kong environment chief says
Hong Kong's environment minister has pledged to tighten scrutiny of applicants and recipients of the government's Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), saying public resources must not fall into the hands of 'non-patriots.' Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told Beijing-backed newspaper Wen Wei Po in an interview published on Sunday that authorities would closely monitor the work of environmental groups to ensure statutory funding is not 'abused' for 'inappropriate purposes.' Since the enactment of the Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020, additional vetting procedures have been introduced to the ECF application process, Tse said. Applicants must now sign a declaration pledging compliance with the security law and all local laws. Authorities also review the background and past work of applicant organisations to verify that they are 'patriotic.' 'We have to ensure that government resources do not end up in the hands of non-patriots, to prevent them from abusing such resources for activities endangering national security, rather than for the purposes of protecting the environment,' Tse said. According to the ECF website, failure to submit the national security declaration renders an application invalid. The ECF application guidelines also state that the government has the right to disqualify recipient organisations on national security grounds and may bar them from future applications if they are deemed contrary to the public interest, morals, or safety. Tse said all organisations currently involved in environmental projects were 'patriotic' and credited the new screening measures with producing 'significant results.' The minister also pointed to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's move in 2022 to add national security clauses to the issuance of licences to markets, public entertainment venues and other premises. When asked about the recent expansion of such requirements to licences for food businesses, cinemas, gaming centres and other premises, Tse said the move was to let society know that safeguarding national security 'is everyone's responsibility.' In a Wen Wei Po interview in July 2023, Tse alleged that some green groups had 'ignored the boundaries of the law,' and that public funds had previously been allocated to 'anti-China' organisations. He added that environmental issues were 'easily hyped up' and could be used as a pretext to oppose the government. High-ranking Hong Kong officials have taken turns to speak about various national security threats facing the city and have vowed stricter scrutiny ahead of the fifth anniversary of the national security law. strictly vet applications for event subsidies, performance venues, exhibition content, and library collections in a bid to better safeguard national security. Monday next week – on June 30 – marks five years since the national security law came into effect. The legislation was inserted directly into the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, in 2020 following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts – broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers and led to hundreds of arrests amid new legal precedents, while dozens of civil society groups disappeared. The authorities say it restored stability and peace to the city, rejecting criticism from trade partners, the UN and NGOs.
HKFP
17-06-2025
- Climate
- HKFP
Artificial intelligence predicted Typhoon Wutip better than traditional computer models, Hong Kong Observatory says
The trajectory of Typhoon Wutip was predicted better by artificial intelligence (AI) software than traditional computer models, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) has said. Traditional computer models and AI software differed in their forecasts of Wutip's path, the HKO said on Sunday, as the storm moved away from the city. A European model predicted that Wutip would approach the southern coast of China, and an American model predicted the storm would come even closer to Hong Kong, passing about 100 kilometres east of Hainan Island. In contrast, two AI software models estimated that Wutip would take a more westerly path further from Hong Kong, a prediction that ultimately was closer to the storm's actual track, the HKO said. It added that last week, from Wednesday to Friday, Wutip remained more than 600 kilometres away, with only some areas of Hong Kong seeing brief periods of strong winds. The HKO issued the T1 storm signal 1 for Wutip in the early hours of Wednesday as it developed into a tropical depression. It upgraded the signal to No. 3 around noon on Saturday and lifted the warning the following day, replacing it with a strong monsoon signal to reflect the reduced wind speed. The monsoon signal was eventually cancelled at 9pm on Sunday. The Observatory has been using AI in weather forecasting in recent years, using it to evaluate air traffic flow rates at the airport and estimate visibility, among other purposes. In November 2023, after the city experienced record-breaking rainfall during a black rainstorm warning that lasted over 16 hours, Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan said the HKO had also used AI to optimise its rain forecasting system. According to the Observatory's forecast, 'heavy showers and thunderstorms' are expected on the coast of Southern China on Tuesday. Hong Kong is expected to see hotter weather later this week, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius on coming Sunday and Monday.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
HKQAA International Sustainability Forum • Hong Kong 2025: Support the Government's Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure, Foster cross-border Cooperation and Green Development
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA) held the HKQAA International Sustainability Forum • Hong Kong 2025 at the Convention Hall of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Mr Tse Chin-wan, BBS, JP, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Government of HKSAR; Mr Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of HKSAR; Dr Chen Gang, Acting SG of BRI International Green Development Coalition; and Mr Gao Guosheng, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Guangdong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary General of the Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration are the officiating guest and special guest. In addition, Dr Bernard Chan, JP, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of the HKSAR, officiated the Thematic Forum – Pathways to the Sustainable Development of the Silver Economy; and Mr Wei Dunsheng, Deputy Mayor of Nanping Municipal People's Government, Fujian Province, officiated the Thematic Forum – Shaping a Sustainable and Livable City: Green Industry, Shared by the World. Linked policymakers and business leaders to explore green opportunities and low-carbon transition of the BRI Sustainable development and low-carbon transition have become a global topic of concern, receiving significant attention from both the business and financial sectors. The Forum invited local and overseas political and business leaders, experts and academics to share their experiences and insights. In the Morning Forum – Seizing Green Finance Opportunities in the Low-Carbon Transition of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area, the special guest speakers included Dr Zhang Jianyu, Chief Development Officer of BRI International Green Development Coalition; Mr Riyadi Suparno, Executive Director of Tenggara Strategics (speaker from Indonesia); Mr Ronnie Tham, Partner at Treo Capital (speaker from Malaysia); and Mr Leo Horn-Phathanothai, Founder and CEO, Just Transitions Incubator (JUTI) (speaker from Thailand). 'We took the lead in launching the Green Finance Certification Scheme in 2018 to help enable Hong Kong to leverage its strengths as a Belt and Road investment and financing platform to attract international capital and boost Belt and Road development. Moreover, we have forged a cooperative relationship with BRI International Green Development Coalition, which is jointly initiated by Ministry of Ecology and Environment of our country and international organisations. We aim to promote exchanges and mutual recognition of carbon standards with BRI countries, strengthen capacity-building training, and foster closer green cooperation,' said Ir C. S. Ho, Chairman of the HKQAA. In the Afternoon Forum – Implementing Sustainable Development and Climate Financial Disclosure, the special guest speakers included Representative of Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau; Ms Janey Lai, Chief Executive Officer, The Accounting and Financial Reporting Council; Mr Leng Bing, Member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB); Prof Liu Yifang, Director, Sustainable Standards Research Center, Central University of Finance and Economics, Professor and PhD Supervisor of School of Economics. Climate Impact GPS Campaign: supporting the Government's roadmap on climate disclosure HKQAA announced on the event that it took the lead in launching the HKQAA Climate Impact GPS Campaign earlier this year in support of the sustainability disclosure policies of our country and the HKSAR Government. This initiative aims to engage organisations, including the banking sector and the listed companies, in building capacity to address climate-related risks and opportunities so as to well prepare required climate-related financial disclosures by offering industry-based technical guidance, workshops and software tools, including the scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions calculation tool. The Campaign is open to organisations at no cost, and nearly 90 participating organisations that joined the Pilot Program were recognised on a presentation ceremony in the Afternoon Session. Participating organisations of the Pilot Program gain prior access to preview relevant industry-based technical guidance, as well as participate in workshops and use the tools. In terms of promoting professional talent development, HKQAA is honoured to be invited to cooperate with the Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau on a sustainability information disclosure pilot and training project, helping the country steadily advance the development of its sustainability disclosure standards system. Moreover, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the Forum by Mr P C Chan, Chief Executive Officer of HKQAA, and Prof Karen Cheung, Director of Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development. This memorandum aims to jointly promote the establishment and optimisation of sustainable development talent standards in Hong Kong, enhance talent cultivation and the upgrading of sustainable development skills, effectively drive industry-wide sustainable development, and foster Hong Kong and the entire Greater Bay Area as an international centre for sustainable development talent. ''I would like to take this opportunity to thank the HKQAA for its contributions to the development of green finance in Hong Kong. The HKQAA has been participating in the development of international standards for sustainable finance and launched the Green and Sustainable Finance Certification Scheme (formerly called Green Finance Certification Scheme) in 2018. I am delighted to know that the HKQAA also supports the development of a roadmap for sustainability disclosure in our country by contributing to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Finance and Economy's pilot project for sustainability disclosure and talent development. At home, it has supported Hong Kong's own disclosure roadmap by establishing industry-specific climate risk tools to help local businesses prepare for future reporting requirements,' said Mr Christopher Hui, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, in his remarks via video. Introducing the Effectiveness and Potential Application of Structural Data Disclosure Model for Sustainability Disclosure HKQAA introduced a brand-new structural data disclosure model in 2024, named the 'Nexus Data Model'. With the meaning of nexus, the objective of the data model is to link material sustainability issues and to connect all stakeholders together. This model is already applied to HKQAA ESG Connect Program, Hong Kong Registration and will be used for other engagement, disclosure or assessment services in the future application. As the evaluation project leader of this data disclosure model, Professor Zhang Lin, School of Energy and Environment of the City University of Hong Kong, shared on the Afternoon Forum the team's finding based on data obtained from the HKQAA ESG Connect Program. The results confirmed that the data model effectively encourages businesses to adopt ESG initiatives and disclose progress on ESG, Carbon Action, Climate Response, and CBAM Ready, while strengthening stakeholder connections. Ultimately, it fosters a sustainable ESG Ecosystem, driving long-term ESG development. Establishing strategic partnership to promote high-quality development in the GBA On the Forum, under the witness of Mr P C Chan, Chief Executive Officer of HKQAA, and Mr Gao Guosheng, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Guangdong Provincial Administration for Market Regulation, Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary General of the Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Mr K T Ting, HKQAA's Chief Operating Officer, and Mr Lu Yongchi, Chief Operation Officer of The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Certification Promotion Centre. This memorandum aims to deepen cooperation in the field of testing and certification, advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promote the alignment of regulatory mechanisms between the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao regions, and support the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area. Co-hosting green industry themed forum with the People's Government of Nanping Nanping is endeavouring to become the country's model city of green development, flourishing through its green industries. Co-hosted by HKQAA and the People's Government of Nanping, Fujian Province, Thematic Forum – Shaping a Sustainable and Livable City: Green Industry, Shared by the World focused on topics of carbon measurement, value of ecological products, and the bamboo industry. Mr Wei Dunsheng, Deputy Mayor of Nanping Municipal People's Government, Fujian Province, was the officiating guest of the Thematic Forum. Launched a silver-friendly registration scheme to support the Government's silver economy policy The presentation ceremony of the Hong Kong Green and Sustainability Contribution Awards 2025 was held on the event. The Awards aim to encourage companies to incorporate sustainable practices into their management decisions and daily operations, and recognise their efforts and contributions. Ｏrganisations and venues from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas were honoured. This year, 'Promote High-Quality Elderly Living', 'Promote Silver-friendly Community' and 'Promote Halai-friendly Community' categories were newly added to the Awards. The awards of 'Promote High-Quality Elderly Living' and 'Promote Silver-friendly Community' were presented by Dr Bernard Chan, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of the HKSAR, who also officiated the Thematic Forum – Pathways to the Sustainable Development of the Silver Economy. HKQAA has been launching various certification and registration schemes in line with government policy directions to continuously enhance the professionalism and recognition of the industry. To support the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, HKQAA has introduced the HKQAA Hong Kong Registration – Silver-friendly Series. This series aims to guide enterprises in tapping into the silver market through three main aspects – venues, products and services, while also creating a better living environment for the elderly. HKQAA will continue to promote the registration scheme, encouraging more enterprises to participate and jointly respond to the government's policy of promoting the silver economy. 'I would like to thank the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency for taking the lead in launching the 'Hong Kong Registration – Silver-Friendly Series' in support of the Government's efforts to promote the silver economy. This registration scheme sets out a set of criteria from the perspective of silver consumers, guiding enterprises to enhance their venues, products, and services. I also call on more enterprises to actively take part in the scheme by integrating silver-friendly elements into their daily operations and creating a consumption environment that better caters to the needs and preferences of the silver generation, thereby boosting 'silver consumption' and driving economic growth,' said Dr Bernard Chan, JP, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, in his remarks. Organisation's Sharing on Sustainability Strategies JEC has been a long-standing ally in Hong Kong's sustainability efforts, aligning with the 2050 Net-Zero mission by providing innovative sustainability solutions to both public and private sectors for decades. JEC's AI digital solution and environmental engineering projects deliver real ESG impact, transforming how businesses and cities thrive sustainably. Regarding JEC's innovations are shaping a more sustainable Hong Kong, JEC's vision is to pioneer even smarter and more sustainable engineering innovations, making them accessible across Hong Kong and Asia. JEC's mission contributes to Hong Kong's 2050 Net-Zero future. JEC looks forward to connecting with all sectors to shape a greener tomorrow. First, JEDI, JEC's AI digital solution, optimizes energy and detects faults in buildings. Its algorithms analyze weather forecasts, past energy consumption, equipment pattern and utility bills to build predictive models, ensuring precise energy management. In 2024, JEDI saved over 8 million kilowatt-hJEC'ss and cut over 4 million kilograms of CO2 across grade A commercial buildings, campuses, and transport hubs in APAC. By analysing real-time data, like chiller performance, it slashes energy costs by 8-26%. For instance, in a commercial tower, JEDI's fault detection reduced downtime, boosting efficiency and meeting BEAM Plus standards. Next, through working with the government, JEC's environmental engineering projects strengthen Hong Kong's sustainability. The Tseung Kwan O Desalination Plant, launched in 2023, uses reverse osmosis to supply ultimately increase to 135,000 million litres, equivalent to around 5% of Hong Kong's potable water demand. Its solar panels generate renewable energy to account for 16% of total energy usage, reducing grid dependence by 30% and earning BEAM Plus Platinum certification. The Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works employs advanced treatment technology, enhancing water quality and earning a 2021 HKIBIM Bronze. At O·PARK2, JEC's waste-to-energy facility handles food waste daily through anaerobic digestion to create biogas for electricity production. This process contributes to exporting significant amounts of energy annually, powering local households, and effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions. JEC's Pilot Biochar Production Plant in EcoPark, Tuen Mun, processes tonnes of woody waste annually to produce tonnes of biochar, reducing emissions and serving as a soil conditioner and pollutant filter.
