Two expert group meetings of the Energy Working Group (EWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as well as two workshops were held in Hong Kong via video conference from November 17 to 20.
     
     Delivering the welcome speech yesterday (November 19), the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that Hong Kong would continue to play an active role in the EWG, providing an excellent platform for APEC members to deepen co-operation and thereby improve energy policy planning and decision-making.
     
     The two expert groups were the Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEE&C) and the Expert Group on Energy Data and Analysis (EGEDA). The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has been representing Hong Kong in the EWG and its expert groups since 1991. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Pang Yiu-hung, said that although the mission to combat climate change was a long and challenging battle, unyielding and continuous efforts among APEC member economies would help overcome hurdles and challenges in striving for this common goal.
     
     About 150 experts and delegates from 16 APEC member economies attended the meetings and associated workshops this year to exchange views on energy challenges and opportunities related to the region.
     
     The EGEE&C was established by the EWG in 1993 to assist the Asia-Pacific region in achieving energy security, advancing economic and social well-being, and realising environmental benefits through energy conservation and the application of energy efficiency practices and technologies. The EGEDA was established in 1991 by the EWG to provide policy relevant energy information to APEC bodies and the wider community through collecting energy data of the APEC region and managing the operation of the APEC energy database.

Ends/Friday, November 20, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:24

NNNN