1. Submission to CE on the Policy Address 2014
The Chief Executive will deliver the Policy Address in Jan 2014. I wrote to the Chief Executive in September. I highlighted key areas including development plan and infrastructure, industrial development, housing and land supply, and environmental protection, and urged the Government to:
a. Development plan and infrastructure
- Invest in the future, optimize long-term infrastructure planning, promote sustainable development
- Set up the task force on population policy
- Plan green infrastructure, promote quality living
- Explore new mechanism to effectively implement infrastructure plan
- Strengthen manpower in the professional grade of Civil Service
- Forecast manpower needs of the construction industry, train and attract more new blood
- Implement the development plan of Northeast New Territories
- Set up “Lantau Development Task Force” to push the development of Lantau Island
- Accelerate the planning and construction of Kai Tak Sports City
b. Industrial development
- Strengthen pillar industries, promote new industries, rejuvenate traditional industries
- Increase investment in R&D, promote industrialization of new technologies
- Expand regional economic cooperation
- Optimize the Government procurement policies and tendering mechanism
c. Housing and land supply
- Implement long-term land supply planning
- Balance housing supply policy, taking into account the needs of middle-class home buyers
- Supply of land to cope with the need of local economy
d. Environmental protection
- Formulate long-term energy policy
- Formulate and implement waste management policy for “waste reduction, recycling and proper disposal”
- Promote establishment of “Centre for Industrialization and Development of Environmental Protection Technologies” to support the development of environmental protection industry
- Implement the “Regional Cooperation Plan on Building a Quality Living Area”
- Support and promote the use of biodiesel
e. Others
- Establish "City Safety Steering Committee" to maintain Hong Kong 's reputation as a safe city
Click to view
the letter to CE (Chinese only)
2. Sustainability of Replacement and Rehabilitation Programme of Water Mains
The Government has since 2000 been implementing the Replacement and Rehabilitation Programme of Water Mains ( R&R programme) in four stages, with the final stage scheduled for completion in 2015. The engineering industry is much concerned about the sustainability & continuity of this R&R programme. It is noted that the existing water mains in the territory amount to 7000 km. With the completion of the current programme, there still remains about 4000 km water mains to be considered, some of which also require replacement and rehabilitation. The Government should initiate related planning as soon as possible. I wrote a letter to the Water Supplies Department in September and urged the Government to take prompt action to this issue and to address concerns of the industry. The Department replied to me that about 1,000 km of the remaining 4,800 km water mains have been selected for further study and investigation.
Click to view
the letter to WSD and
the reply from WSD
3. Visited the North East New Territories Landfill
The Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs visited the North East New Territories (NENT) Landfill on 1st September to observe the actions taken to deal with the leachate leak incident there. Members first received a briefing by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on the leachate leak incident and the actions taken. Members then observed the damaged leachate lagoon of the Landfill to know about the latest situation of the incident. The Department committed to take action to re-inspect all leachate lagoons at the landfill and ensure that there be no damage. The EPD has also stepped up monitoring of the performance of the landfill contractor to ensure that the leachate lagoons have sufficient capacity to contain the leachate generated from the landfill and cope with the weather conditions. The damaged leachate lagoon at the NENT Landfill was repaired and has resumed operation now.
4. Guidebook for ISO 50001 Energy Management System
With Funding support by the SME Development Fund, I led a joint team of the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to implement a Support Programme for SMEs to adopt the ISO 50001 Energy Management System Standard. The release of ISO 50001 has marked the worldwide introduction of Energy Management System requirements that companies with proper energy management could be recognized through third-party certification. The key deliverable of the project is a guidebook that provides guidelines and management tools on the implementation of ISO50001, targeting at SME's in different industrial sectors. There is a series of activities to promote this guidebook. I am glad to see that many local companies have taken a jump-start from showing interest to learn more at the beginning, to participating in pilot assessment during this programme, and finally planning for acquiring ISO50001 certification.
5. Product Certification Scheme for LED lighting products
The HKEIA formed an Independent LED Lighting Advisory Committee in March 2012 to draft a Product Certification Scheme for LED Lighting Products. I am Chairman of this Committee, comprised with representatives from local academics, professional bodies, LED lighting manufacturers, contractors, government bodies, users, testing laboratories and certification bodies. The purpose of the Scheme is to ensure LED lighting products produced by manufacturers meet the requirements specified, in the areas of safety, Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC), quality and performance, through a third party product certification system. The drafting of the Scheme is completed, covering three product categories: Bulkhead Light, Downlight and Floodlight. HKEIA is now promoting the Scheme to LED lighting suppliers, users, testing laboratories and certification bodies.