The Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection (JWGSDEP) held its 16th meeting in Guangzhou today (January 6). The meeting was co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Director-General of the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province, Mr Lu Xiulu. The meeting reviewed the progress of the environmental collaboration of the two sides in 2016, and agreed on a work plan for 2017.

     The JWGSDEP considered that smooth progress has been made on various co-operation fronts in 2016, including improving the air quality in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, protecting the water environment, and managing forestry and marine resources (as detailed in Annex A). In particular, the 2016-2020 Co-operation Agreement between Guangdong and Hong Kong on Environmental Protection was signed by both sides in September last year.

     Both sides revisited the timetable for the mid-term review on the emission reduction targets of air pollutants for 2015 and 2020, with a view to announcing the emission reduction results for 2015 in the first quarter of 2017, and the finalised emission reduction targets for 2020 before mid-2017. The Hong Kong-Guangdong Marine Environmental Management Special Panel was set up under the framework of the JWGSDEP to enhance exchange and communication on various regional marine environmental matters, in order to improve the regional marine environment. The two sides have also completed the second review of the Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) Water Pollution Control Joint Implementation Programme and agreed upon further co-operation plans.

     The JWGSDEP also endorsed the work plan for 2017 with focuses on following up on the 2016-2020 Co-operation Agreement between Guangdong and Hong Kong on Environmental Protection, implementing air pollution control measures in the two places, and completing the mid-term review on emission reduction targets and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Regional PM2.5 Study. The work plan also covers collaboration in protecting the water environment, forestry, marine resources and managing the marine environment (as detailed in Annex B).

     Officials of the HKSAR Government attending today's meeting included representatives of the Environment Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Water Supplies Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Officials of the Guangdong side included representatives of the Environmental Protection Department of Guangdong Province, the Development and Reform Commission of Guangdong Province, the Department of Housing and Urban-rural Development of Guangdong Province, the Water Resources Department of Guangdong Province, the Forestry Department of Guangdong Province, the Department of Ocean and Fisheries of Guangdong Province, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Guangdong Province, the Guangdong Meteorological Service, the Human Settlements and Environment Commission of Shenzhen Municipality and the Zhuhai Environmental Protection Bureau. The JWGSDEP mainly discusses and exchanges views on matters relating to environmental quality, natural resources, ecological environment and sustainable development of the two sides. The number of special panels set up under the JWGSDEP to take forward the implementation of various co-operation initiatives has been increased to seven.

Ends/Friday, January 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 15:30

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