The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (November 11) that amendments to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (Technical Memorandum) have been effective since their implementation on June 30, 2023. The related transitional arrangements will be terminated on June 30, 2025.
 
     The spokesperson for the EPD said that the amendments have streamlined the entire environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, including simplifying the technical assessment requirements, facilitating direct application for environmental permits, establishing a Central Environmental Database (CED), and updating the list of designated projects. These optimisation measures have effectively enhanced the efficiency of EIAO operations. Since the implementation of the amendments, the time required for overall EIA projects has been reduced by half to approximately 15 to 24 months.
 
Effectiveness of optimisation measures
 
     Under the optimised process, the EPD introduced the CED. Since its launch, the database has received positive feedback from stakeholders including government departments, consulting firms and academia. In the past year, about 80 EIA and planning projects have utilised the online tools of the database for research purposes. Moreover, there are around 2 000 public visitors per month browsing the environmental data on the database. The EPD will continue to update the CED and enhance it by extracting relevant ecological data from the approved EIA reports to help project proponents plan their projects and improve the standard of EIA studies.
 
     For those designated projects with minor environmental impacts and proven mitigation measures, project proponents can directly apply for an environmental permit by submitting a project brief and effective mitigation measures with the facilitation arrangement.

     For more complex and time-consuming projects, under the optimised EIA process, project proponents can utilise various innovative technical assessment measures in the CED, including using baseline air quality data and online noise assessment models, and conducting standardised ecological surveys in advance, which can shorten the overall EIA time by approximately 20 to 30 months.
 
Termination of transitional arrangements
 
     For projects with EIA studies agreed before June 30, 2023, the EPD provided transitional arrangements, allowing the use of existing technical assessment methods. Given that the amendments have been in effect for over a year and the project proponents and the industry have generally adapted to the new requirements, the transitional arrangements will end by June 30, 2025.
 
     The spokesperson said, "Project proponents adopting transitional arrangements must submit an application for approval of the EIA report to the Director of Environmental Protection on or before June 30, 2025. Applications submitted after this date must demonstrate that the technical assessment complies with the amended Technical Memorandum. Project proponents may also choose to apply for a fresh EIA study brief."

     The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a three-year licence to use and operate the fuel supply system for vessels on portions of the China Ferry Terminal, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

     The premises should only be used for the supply of industrial gas oil for vessels.

     The tender notice was uploaded today (November 11) to the GPA Property Portal: www.gpaproperty.gov.hk/en/index.html. Tender documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.

     Interested tenderers who wish to attend a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6777 on or before November 21.

     Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on December 2. Late tenders will not be accepted.

     The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (vA!) of the Art Promotion Office is now staging the "vA! Residency – Reimagining the Ordinary" ceramics exhibition by artist Nutz Luk. The exhibition will run until February 24 next year. Admission is free.

     The vA! is devoted to nurturing art talent by inviting emerging artists to conduct cross-disciplinary art experiments. This year, Luk was offered a residency at the vA! to create commissioned artworks, organise sharing sessions to communicate with the public and showcase her creations by staging an exhibition.

     Luk observes and responds to life through ceramics. Her art practice begins with various daily life objects, integrating the functional and artistic expression aspects of ceramics. Drawing inspiration from the century-old building of the vA!, which was formerly Cassels Block, a married quarters for British military officers, Luk turns a series of everyday objects, such as a chandelier, old photo frames, and an old phonograph, which represent the lifestyle of the last century, into ceramic works now being displayed on the 3/F to 5/F of the vA!. Through these reshaped objects, Luk invites visitors to explore the past and present of these objects and envision different forms of life.

     The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and is organised by the vA!. For details of the exhibition, please visit the website at www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/va_residency_reimagining_ordinary.html or call 2521 3008.

            

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), has joined hands with multilateral organisations, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, to announce a strategic partnership at the Asia Climate Investment Seminar today (November 11). The partnership marks a significant step towards strengthening strategic co-operation in sustainable finance in Asia.

     The strategic partnership serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to unite against climate change, with Actis GP LLP (Actis) being one of the General Partners supporting the initiative, aiming to deploy at least US$500 million in Asia. The partners emphasise the importance of a collaborative approach involving multiple partners and institutions to address sustainability challenges in the region. They will focus on investments in sectors that contribute to achieving net zero emissions and reducing greenhouse gases in the region, including renewable energy infrastructure, energy solutions and sustainable transportation.

     The Chief Executive Officer of the Exchange Fund Investment Office of the HKMA, Mr Howard Lee, said, "As a leading green finance hub in Asia, Hong Kong has been facilitating a significant portion of the region’s international green and sustainable bonds in recent years. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to demonstrate that achieving both financial return and sustainable development in Asia is not only feasible but essential for our vision of progress and environmental stewardship."

     The Director General for Private Sector Operations of the ADB, Ms Suzanne Gaboury, said, "Developing economies in Asia and the Pacific face significant shortfalls in climate investments needed to clear the path to green growth. As the climate bank for the region, ADB is scaling up its climate financing and collaborating with like-minded organisations to channel capital to bankable and impactful development projects."

     The Director General, Financial Institutions and Funds Clients Department, Global, of the AIIB, Mr Gregory Liu, said, "Our strategic partnership with the HKMA, ADB, and IFC reflects AIIB’s commitment to advancing climate-focused investments that drive sustainable growth in Asia. Together, we aim to accelerate Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy, setting a robust foundation for impactful climate action and regional resilience."

     The Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific at IFC, Ms Kim-See Lim, said, "Climate change is the challenge of our time, and the stakes are especially high in Asia, where the crisis poses major challenges to environmental stability, economic growth and human development.  IFC is pleased to collaborate with HKMA, Actis, ADB and AIIB to drive meaningful change by channelling capital into climate projects in countries across the region that need it most, while helping to accelerate an inclusive transition to low-carbon, resilient growth."

     Partner, Head of Sustainability at Actis, Ms Shami Nissan, said, "With half the world’s population, rapid industrialisation, carbon intensive grids and accounting for half of global emissions, Asia is absolutely vital to our ability to deliver a net zero future. We are delighted to be partnering with strategic investors of Actis to support this need."

About HKMA

     The HKMA is Hong Kong's central banking institution. The HKMA's main functions are: (i) maintaining currency stability within the framework of the Linked Exchange Rate System; (ii) promoting the stability and integrity of the financial system, including the banking system; (iii) helping to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, including the maintenance and development of Hong Kong's financial infrastructure; and (iv) managing the Exchange Fund.

About ADB

     ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

About AIIB

     The AIIB is a multilateral development bank whose mission is Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond – infrastructure with sustainability at its core. The AIIB began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 110 approved members worldwide. The AIIB is capitalised at US$100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients’ needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity.

About IFC

     IFC – a member of the World Bank Group – is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilising private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

About Actis

     Actis is a global investment management firm focused on sustainable infrastructure including sustainable energy solutions. 

     The Education Bureau (EDB) welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Education that the number of Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (Admission Scheme) will increase to 145 (listed in the Annex) for the 2025/26 academic year. The institutions come from 21 provinces/municipalities and one autonomous region of the Mainland, and they will accept applications from candidates sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination in 2025.

     A spokesman for the EDB said today (November 11), "The Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Admission Scheme admit Hong Kong students based on their HKDSE Examination results, hence exempting them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland Institutions. The 145 participating higher education institutions offer various programmes. We encourage Hong Kong students to pursue further studies on the Mainland through the Admission Scheme and seize the opportunity to learn about the country's latest social, economic and cultural landscape, and plan ahead for their future development. The EDB will continue discussion with the Mainland with a view to inviting more renowned Mainland institutions to participate in the Admission Scheme and providing students with multiple study pathways and opportunities to connect with the country's development.

     "As in previous years, there is the School Principal Nomination Scheme under the Admission Scheme, and each secondary school can nominate up to eight students. The minimum entrance requirement adopted by the participating Mainland institutions is 'Attained' in the Citizenship and Social Development subject and a total score of 8 or above in the three core subjects (i.e. Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics) in the HKDSE Examination, and among them none is below 2."

     Students interested in participating in the Admission Scheme for the 2025/26 academic year can log on to the designated website to apply online from December 1 to 31, 2024, and subsequently review and confirm application verification results before January 10, 2025. As for cases in which students provided supplementary information as per the system's request, they can log on and review verification results before January 23, 2025. Those who have passed the application verification should make payment of the application fee (HK$460) by January 31, 2025, after which Mainland institutions participating in the Admission Scheme may arrange interviews based on the application information submitted by students. Institutions will announce admission results in late July 2025 and arrange for supplementary enrolment according to the enrolment situation.

     Details of the Admission Scheme are available on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/admissionscheme). Students, teachers and parents can also participate in the Mainland Higher Education Expo 2025/26 jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the EDB on November 30 and December 1, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Details will be announced in due course.

     In addition, eligible Hong Kong students enrolled in undergraduate programmes of designated Mainland institutions can apply for a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy under the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS). The MUSSS is not subject to any quota, the subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants may only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year.