Chapter 5 - THE WAY FORWARD
To strive for continuous improvement, we will -
- monitor the effectiveness of the green measures in place, and modify and improve them as and when necessary;
- review our environmental objectives regularly and make use of new techniques as far as possible; and
- promote staff awareness in and knowledge on environmental issues, and support green initiatives and campaigns organised by other organisations.
Towards a Better Environment
We plan to take forward the following environmental initiatives, which aim at helping create a better environment.
Upgrading of Cremation Facilities
The construction of new and environmentally friendly cremators at the Wo Hop Shek Crematorium and Cape Collinson Crematorium (Phase 1) has been completed in 2012, and the cremators will be open for public booking starting from mid-February 2013. The reprovisioning works for Cape Collinson Crematorium (Phase 2) is underway. The reprovisioned cremators meet prevailing standards set by the Environmental Protection Department, and adopt the most up-to-date technologies and use fuel that increases cremation efficiency and reduces air pollutant emission, thereby minimising impact on the environment.
Upgrading of Columbarium Facilities
To encourage the public to adopt environmentally friendly ways to pay tribute to the deceased and to improve air quality, furnaces for burning joss paper have been installed only on the ground floor of the newly completed Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium Phase V. Also, incense troughs for burning joss sticks have been installed only at specified locations in non-smoke-free areas on 2/F to 4/F of the columbarium. To enable the public to offer flowers to the deceased, each niche in the columbarium has been furnished with a flower receptacle.
Promotion of Green Burial
We will continue to promote more sustainable means of interment, i.e. scattering of cremated human ashes at sea or in Gardens of Remembrance. We have enhanced the free ferry service for sea-scattering by employing a bigger vessel that can accommodate more than 200 passengers since January 2012 and increased the number of sails to four times per month starting from January 2013. After opening the new Garden of Remembrance in Diamond Hill Crematorium on 9 July 2012, we are planning to open the new Garden of Remembrance in the Wo Hop Shek Kiu Tau Road Columbarium Phase V in the second quarter of 2013 so as to encourage the public to scatter cremated human ashes in Gardens of Remembrance.
Improvement of Refuse Collection Points and Public Toilets
We plan to build more off-street RCPs equipped with features to minimise environmental nuisance to nearby residents. We will continue to carry out improvement works to public toilets and aqua privies.
Enhanced Intensive Street Washing and Gum Removal
We will continue to use high pressure hot water cleaners for street washing and gum removal to enhance street cleanliness, with a view to maintaining Hong Kong as a world class metropolitan and to meeting public expectation for a cleaner city.
Pest Control
We will continue to adopt an integrated approach in pest control operations, putting equal emphasis on judicious application of pesticides and continuous improvement of environmental hygiene. We will continue to review pest control methodologies and technologies regularly, making reference to the World Health Organisation's latest recommendations.
Green Drive
We will continue to implement green housekeeping practices and promote staff awareness of paper saving, energy saving and waste recycling. We will also work in partnership with EMSD to schedule energy audits, arrange energy saving briefings to venue managers and staff, and explore further energy saving initiatives.
Comments and Suggestions
This report can be viewed at our homepage at www.fehd.gov.hk. Comments and suggestions on the report are most welcome. Please write to our Green Manager at Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, 44/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong or email us at fehdhqgen@fehd.gov.hk.