3.1 | In providing aesthetically pleasing open space and promoting greening and horticulture, we have five areas of work. They are –
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3.2 | (I) Provision of Open Spaces that are Aesthetically Pleasing
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3.3 | (II) Beautification of Existing Landscape Areas
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3.4 | (III) Planting Programme Around 2 524 000 trees, shrubs and annuals were planted in 2014 (breakdown at Annex II). To tie in with the tree management policy promulgated by the Development Bureau, we removed peripheral plantings at the tree bases to enhance the tree health and risk assessment arrangement during the year. Besides, we continued the planting of flowering species to enhance the visual impact with more seasonal colours. |
3.5 | (IV) Education and Promotion on Environmental Protection (a) Horticulture Courses for the General Public During the year of 2014, the Department conducted 48 horticulture courses for 1 404 participants, which were well-received. (b) School Guided Visits The Department organised 548 guided visits for 18 990 school children. Participants were guided around the Hong Kong Zoological & Botanical Gardens, Kowloon Park, Hong Kong Park, Tai Po Waterfront Park, Tuen Mun Park, Lower Shouson Hill Nursery and Boundary Street Nursery. The content of the talk delivered during the guided visit was designed having regard to the curriculum on environmental education for primary schools, including topics on plants and animals. (c) Outdoor Education Activities for Kindergartens A total of 60 guided visits were arranged for 1 833 children from kindergartens to tour around Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Park. Children were introduced the basic knowledge of plants and taught the concept of environmental conservation and appropriate manners for visiting parks. (d) Conservation Courses for Uniformed Groups The programmes provided a wide range of courses in gardening and arboriculture and aimed at promoting the concept of nature conservation. A total of 12 conservation courses were organised for 285 participants of the uniformed groups in 2014. Participants were involved in group discussions, lectures, guided visits and practical services. (e) Seminar and Gallery on Environmental Protection
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3.6 | (V) Greening Activities The Department continuously promotes a green culture in the community through a series of educational and community involvement programmes. A total of 3 162 greening activities were organised for the year of 2014, including –
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3.7 | The Department, through its Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO), is committed to preserving Hong Kong’s cultural heritage. Under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) advises the Secretary for Development, i.e. the Antiquities Authority, on matters relating to antiquities and monuments. The AMO works closely with AAB and acts as the Authority’s executive arm under the Ordinance. |
3.8 | In addition, the AMO plays an important role in monitoring Environmental Impact Assessment projects insofar as their impact on antiquities and monuments is concerned. The work involves inspecting cultural heritage sites, examining mitigation measures to remedy any possible damage to the sites and conducting, where necessary, rescue excavations at archaeological sites and cartographic recording of historic buildings. |
3.9 | The AMO also organises educational programmes to promote heritage preservation among the public. |
3.10 | The Department firmly believes that cultural heritage not only enhances our built environment and the natural landscape, but also provides an essential and irreplaceable link between the past, the present and the future. It forms the basic points of reference for our cultural identity and traditions. |
3.11 | Up to end 2014, there were 108 declared monuments, including 90 historic buildings and structures as well as 18 rock carvings, forts, stone inscription and archaeological sites. |
3.12 | The AMO carried out restoration and repair works on a number of monuments and historic buildings, mainly including Morrison Building in Tuen Mun, Yan Tun Kong Study Hall and Tang Ancestral Hall in Ping Shan, Chik Kwai Study Hall and Leung Ancestral Hall in Pat Heung, Tang Ancestral Hall and Yeung Hau Temple in Ha Tsuen, Lo Wai and Kun Lun Wai Enclosing Walls and Corner Watch Towers in Fanling, Liu Man Shek Tong Ancestral Hall in Sheung Shui, Residence of Ip Ting-sz in Sha Tau Kok, Fan Sin Temple in Tai Po, Hung Shing Temple in Sai Kung, Maryknoll Convent School in Kowloon Tong and Helena May in Central. |
3.13 | Archaeological surveys and excavations necessitated by small-scale development projects such as small house development in the New Territories were conducted by the AMO in Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Sai Kung, Cheung Chau and Lamma Island. The archaeological surveys and excavations have successfully salvaged the archaeological heritage, if any, found at the sites. |
3.14 | On education and publicity, the AMO organised a wide variety of educational and publicity programmes, such as displays, lectures, guided tours and workshops, to promote heritage conservation. A long-term exhibition on the archaeological and built heritage has been staged in the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. In total, the office conducted 1 347 heritage educational programmes and produced 14 publications in 2014. |
3.15 | We proactively explore ways to promote paper saving, energy saving and waste reduction, including conducting energy audits to identify good energy management practices. Measures/housekeeping practices adopted are shown in the ensuing paragraphs. |
(I) Paper Saving
3.16 | Good practices for economy in the use of paper are set out in existing departmental circular and circular memorandum, which are re-circulated to staff periodically as a reminder. We promoted “reduce and reuse” for saving paper. We met the target for shifting 70% of the total paper consumption from wood free paper to recycled paper. We also made the following endeavours in 2014 –
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(II) Energy Saving
3.17 | In accordance with the target-based green performance framework set out by the Environment Bureau, the Department has already accomplished the target of 5% savings in normalised electricity consumption of government buildings from the financial year (FY) 2009-10 to 2013-14 under comparable operating conditions, using the electricity consumption in FY 2007-08 as the baseline. |
3.18 | In 2014, we continued our effort to manage our resources responsibly. Energy-saving building services installations and environmental-friendly materials were used whenever applicable. |
3.19 | The electricity consumption of government buildings under LCSD in FY 2013-14 and FY 2014-15 were 333 million kWh and 336.5 million kWh respectively. |
(a) Change in Electricity Consumption
3.20 | There was an increase in electricity consumption of government buildings under LCSD in FY2014-15 as compared to FY2013-14 by 1.1% under comparable operating conditions. The increase was mainly due to the full-year commissioning of the Hong Kong Velodrome, opening of the Ko Shan Theatre New Wing and re-opening of Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool after maintenance. |
3.21 | The change in electricity consumption was also attributable to some other factors such as increase in usage rate, provision of additional services at individual sport centres, installation of new/additional facilities/equipment at individual swimming pools, serving the chairmanship of certain Municipal Services Building (MSB) Management Committees 1, etc. 1.The electricity consumption of the MSB is counted towards the department holding the BMC chairmanship. |
(b) Housekeeping Measures for Energy Saving
3.22 | The following housekeeping measures for energy saving were commonly adopted in the Department’s offices and venues (including leisure venues, performing arts venues, libraries and museums) in 2014 –
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3.23 | Apart from the above commonly adopted housekeeping measures, some venues also implement other practicable measures that can cope with their operational characteristics or specific environment for energy saving–
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3.24 | At the headquarters building, the following practicable measures were also implemented –
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3.25 | The Government has set a new target of 5% saving in the electricity consumption of government buildings under comparable operating conditions from 2015-16 to 2019-20, using 2013-14 as the baseline. We would continue our effort to achieve the Government’s new target and identify energy management opportunities specific to the operational and technical characteristics of individual buildings by conducting energy audit for buildings with annual electricity consumption of more than 500,000 kilowatt hour in 2013-14. |
(III) Other Green Measures
3.26 | Other green measures adopted are listed below -
Water Reduction
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(IV) Environmental Awareness among Staff
3.27 | For raising environmental awareness and promoting waste reduction, saving energy and natural resources among staff –
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(V) Clean Air Charter
3.28 | On 27 November 2006, the Chief Executive signed the Clean Air Charter on behalf of the Government at the “Business for Clean Air” seminar organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. The Charter was initiated by the business sector in support of the Government’s appeal to improve air quality in Hong Kong. |
3.29 | As at 31.12.2014, we had a fleet of 152 vehicles. The total mileage was 1 875 940 km in 2014 and the fuel consumption was 355 682 litres. The related emissions were about 10 514 kg of NOx and 856 kg of RSP2. In support of the campaign to improve air quality in Hong Kong, we have implemented the following measures – 2.The indirect emissions from vehicle fuel are calculated according to the formulae set out in the Guide to Clean Air Charter Report Writing published by EPD in Jan 2008.
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3.30 | We monitored closely the generator and machinery installed for activities to ensure that dark smoke emission would not exceed the prescribed requirement as stipulated in the relevant Regulations. |
3.31 | We monitored the noise level of outdoor events and ensure that they were within the limits set in the relevant Regulations. |
3.32 | Following the amendments to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap 371) in 2006, statutory no smoking areas have been extended to cover all indoor workplaces and public places as well as some outdoor public places. The Department has implemented the smoking ban in these premises with effect from 1 January 2007. |