​Over 40 organsiations from various sectors pledged their support for green events at a ceremony today (September 27) by committing to make reference to a green event guidebook published by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) when organising and sponsoring future events, in order to enhance their environmental performance and work collaboratively to promote waste reduction.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, thanked the organisations for their support and participation. He said that the three major keys to reducing waste are determination, sincerity and creativity. In addition to being determined to encourage their staff members and stakeholders to implement new green initiatives, organisations need to show their sincerity in waste reduction to motivate others to join them in the green campaign, he said. They are also encouraged to unlock their creativity to help set green values as a major social trend.
Mr Wong expressed the hope that the green event guidebook will be used by more organisations to jointly promote waste reduction at their events, and would further enhance the image of Hong Kong from being a "city of events" to "city of green events" and encourage a green culture among the community. He added that government departments will set a good example by making reference to the green event guidebook when holding events and help disseminate the message of "dump less, save more, recycle right".
Also speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mrs Vicki Kwok, said that the EPD will tap into the experience of promoting green events in previous months to foster even closer collaboration with the business sector, local district organisations and non-profit making organisations, so as to continue with efforts to further reduce event-generated waste. To this end, through cognitive education, award promotion and enhanced supportive measures, the EPD will help event organisers and other stakeholders to formulate and implement various waste reduction initiatives, thereby enabling a green culture to take root at the community level. The EPD will also collaborate with the Environmental Campaign Committee and major local business associations to launch the Green Outdoor Event Commendation Scheme to encourage event organisers to jointly protect the environment by adopting green practices when holding outdoor events.
Also at today's ceremony, a representative of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department shared details of the Department's successful experience in waste reduction during Hong Kong Flower Show 2018; a representative of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Limited provided a briefing on newly adopted green measures; an AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited representative told participants about their waste-reduction approach as a venue provider; and a representative of Wofoo Social Enterprise gave a briefing on its wide range of activities to encourage primary, secondary and tertiary students to promote waste reduction with local partners. The ceremony was attended by representatives of banks, property developers, convention and exhibition industry, public and non-profit making organisations, community groups, universities and district organisations. In addition, a mini green services exhibition was also held at the event venue to allow attending organisations to learn more about the available companies providing green services on the market.
The EPD and the Business Environment Council (BEC) jointly launched a guidance booklet on waste reduction for major community events last December to assist event organisers and related stakeholders in formulating waste management strategies to achieve waste reduction and clean recycling as well as to enhance environmental performance.
The green event guidebook and information relating to waste reduction at events have been uploaded to the newly launched one-stop portal at www.greenevent.gov.hk/.
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