The Environment Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province today (December 16) held the eighth meeting of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Cleaner Production (JWGCP) via video conferencing. The Environment Bureau also announced the list of Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners for 2021.

     The eighth meeting of the JWGCP was co-chaired by the Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR, Mr Wong Kam-sing, and the Director-General of the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province, Mr Tu Gaokun. The meeting reviewed work progress in 2021 and agreed on the 2022 work plan, which focuses on the continuous promotion of cleaner production technologies and management systems to conserve energy in energy-intensive industries, encouraging the adoption of water-saving technologies and increasing the wastewater recycling rate in water-intensive industries, control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds at source and incentivising polluting industries to undertake cleaner production audits. Both sides will also continue to support relevant trade and industry associations to carry out trade-specific promotions and publicity activities.

     The meeting was attended by representatives of the Environment Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Trade and Industry Department, the Innovation and Technology Commission and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the Government of the HKSAR. On the Guangdong side, representatives of the Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Department of Ecology and Environment and the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province attended the meeting.

     Meanwhile, the Environment Bureau announced the commendation of 174 enterprises as Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners in recognition of their efforts in pursuing cleaner production. Of these, 30 and 115 Hong Kong-owned manufacturing enterprises were commended as Excellent Partners and Partners respectively. Other commended enterprises included one sourcing enterprise and 28 environmental technology service providers. Details can be found on the cleaner production website: www.cleanerproduction.hk.

     The Cleaner Production Partnership Programme was launched by the EPD of the HKSAR Government in collaboration with the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangdong Province in 2008 to encourage and facilitate Hong-Kong owned factories in the region to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices. It has funded more than 3 590 projects to help enterprises conserve energy and reduce air pollutant emissions and effluent discharge, thereby reducing carbon emissions and improving the regional environment.

Ends/Thursday, December 16, 2021
Issued at HKT 17:42

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