In support of the Government’s environmental goals, the Department takes environmental considerations into account, from project inception to management/operation to minimise pollution, conserve resources, protect our natural environment and promote the appreciation of the beauty of our environment.
In meeting these goals, we are committed to:
- Promoting greening and horticulture
- Preserving assets of our heritage
- Providing aesthetically pleasing open space
- Practicing waste reduction and energy saving
- Minimising air and noise pollution in organising leisure and cultural activities
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The lighting system at the Beach Volleyball cum Handball Court at Kwai Chung Sports Ground directs light to the court, avoiding any nuisance to nearby residents. |
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The 'Renewable Energy Zone' in Po Kong Village Road Park informs visitors about various forms of renewable energy to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle. |
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We follow these environmental goals when planning new facilities and maintaining existing ones. We promote energy-saving building services installations and environment-friendly materials. We use high-efficiency lighting systems as much as possible. Wherever feasible, the operating duration of lighting at venues has been minimised. In summer, we generally maintain the government recommended office room temperature of 25.5°C. At places such as museums, sports centres and performing arts venues where we cannot strictly maintain this temperature for essential operational/or customer service reasons, we work closely with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to adjust the temperature to as close to 25.5°C as feasible.
Other major environmental efforts include:
- Upgrading existing landscape areas and planting more trees and shrubs
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To enhance public participation in greening, citizens were invited to join greening activities in parks run by the Department. |
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- Launching community greening activities, such as the Hong Kong Flower Show, Community Planting Day, the Green Volunteer Scheme and the Greening School Subsidy Scheme
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Under the Green Ambassador Scheme, celebrities took part in a workshop on tree management organised to strengthen community involvement in the effort. |
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- Organising public educational programmes to promote heritage conservation
- Saving water by planting drought-tolerant species in suitable locations and using less water for water features in major parks
- Conducting energy audits and energy-saving improvement works where practicable in collaboration with EMSD and the Architectural Services Department
- Adjusting lighting operating hours at our venues where reasonable and installing occupancy sensors to control lighting at a number of leisure venues and in our Sha Tin headquarters.
- Taking part in ‘Earth Hour 2010’ lights out campaign, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature in March 2010
- Switching off lights on outside walls and outdoor areas of our venues, except for operational and safety/security reasons
- Encouraging colleagues to support ‘Hong Kong No Air-con Night’ organised by Green Sense and turn off air-conditioners at home for 12 hours in September 2010
- Planning to gradually replace all conventional retired departmental vehicles with environment-friendly vehicles
- Installing solar panels at Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence and Hong Kong Museum of Art
- Widely promoting good environmental practices and publicising green tips in our offices and venues
- Promoting the use of more green products and recycled paper
- Engaging contractors to recycle magazines, newspapers, waste paper and printer cartridges
- Placing waste separation bins at our venues for the recovery of waste paper, metals and plastics
- Recycling paper and unserviceable library materials, and reducing paper by giving users the option to receive overdue and reservation notices through e-mail
- Recycling exhibition materials at museums and the Hong Kong Film Archive and placing collection boxes for collecting guide maps and pamphlets disposed by patrons
- Using electronic means at performing arts venues and programming offices to publicise programmes and collect feedback
- Cutting down on printed material by tightly monitoring distribution, and recycling unused flyers and programme guides
- Reducing the use of plastic shopping bags
- Providing recycling bins to collect used umbrella bags given to the public
In December 2010, the Department issued its 10th environmental report, covering our green management practices and activities in greater detail.
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The Department issues an annual environmental report giving an account of our green activities. |
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