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Following is a question by the Hon Tsang Yok-sing and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (January 24) :
Question:
It has been reported that as the new computer operating systems which will soon be launched in Hong Kong have more demanding hardware requirements than the previous systems, it is believed that as many as 500 000 computers need to be replaced, and the discarded computers may cause environmental pollution problem. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it plans to assist the public in continuing to use computers which cannot be installed with the new operating systems but are still operable;
(b) whether it has assessed what damages on Hong Kong's environment will be caused by the computer replacement trend; and
(c) of the computer recycling schemes initiated or co-organised by the Government at present; whether it will further extend and promote such schemes to deal with the computer replacement trend?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) In November 2006, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), in collaboration with the Chamber of Hong Kong Computer Industry, produced a series of Announcement of Public Interests (APIs) on environmentally friendly practices for using computers, covering proper operation and maintenance of computer peripherals as well as better utilisation of RAM. We plan to produce a new series of APIs within this year to spread more general knowledge on the use and maintenance of software to assist computer users in making maximum use of computers that are still operable so as to achieve waste reduction. Apart from this, the EPD plans to place advertisements in computer magazines and on websites to promote environmentally friendly practices for using computers.
(b) The updating of previous computer software to, for example, Windows XP and Windows ME did not result in a surge in computers requiring disposal at landfills. We understand from the trade that the computer replacement trend is mainly led by users in pursuit of the latest technologies. Most of the replaced computers are models manufactured within the past two to three years, which are easily taken up by the brisk second-hand market. The computer replacement trend is therefore not expected to significantly increase the amount of waste computers for disposal at landfills.
(c) Since 2003, the EPD has engaged a non-profit making organisation to organise a recovery programme for waste computers. Computers collected are donated to people in need after repair. Those beyond repair are dismantled and their usable components and materials are detached for recycling. In October 2005, the EPD set up a computer recycling workshop at the Kowloon Bay Refuse Transfer Station to provide more storage area and space for the expansion of the programme. In support of environmental protection, a major computer company launched a free-of-charge computer recycling service in January for consumers in Hong Kong. The EPD is liaising with other major local computer suppliers to encourage the provision of similar service. Please visit the EPD website at http://www.epd.gov.hk for more information on the computer recycling programme.
For public convenience, the EPD also organises regular computer recovery activities to promote the proper disposal of waste computers. An example is the forthcoming Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recycling Days organised by the EPD, the Environmental Campaign Committee and District Councils on January 27 and 28.
Ends/Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:55
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