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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
The Housing Authority has been promoting green and healthy living in all public rental housing estates through a series of environmental education activities. This year, the Housing Authority and three green groups are co-organising the sixth phase of the "Green Delight in Estates" programme.
Officiating at the launching ceremony today (August 10), the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing (Housing)/Director of Housing, Mr D W Pescod, said the programme has fostered a green culture in public housing estates and heightened environmental awareness among tenants. Diverse activities have been organised and rolled out at all public housing estates to promote green living since the launch of the programme in 2005.
Under the programme, more than 10,000 public housing tenants and students have become Green Estate Ambassadors to help disseminate green messages among public rental housing tenants.
Findings of a survey by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, commissioned by the three green groups, indicate that public rental housing tenants' environmental awareness has continued to rise since 2005. The survey shows that in 2011, almost 90 per cent of tenants said they had taken up the habit of saving energy. In addition, more than 70 per cent of tenants felt they had a better knowledge of environmental protection than they did a year earlier.
The theme of this year's "Green Delight in Estates" programme focuses on the reduction of municipal waste. Mr Pescod said efforts would be made to encourage public housing tenants to reduce waste.
The three green groups co-organising the programme are the Conservancy Association, Friends of the Earth (HK) and the Business Environment Council. Also officiating at today's event were the Chief Executive of the Conservancy Association, Mr Ken So; the Chief Executive Officer of Friends of the Earth (HK), Ms Mayling Chan; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Business Environment Council, Ms Agnes Li.
Ends/Friday, August 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:21
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