The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (June 28) officiated at the award ceremony for the Charter on External Lighting to commend about 4 800 participants for joining hands to implement the Charter to provide the public with a better environment conducive to sleep and minimise energy wastage. Mr Wong emphasised that the support of various sectors is instrumental to the implementation of the Charter, which aims to encourage them to switch off unnecessary lights at night.
The awardees came from sectors including building management, property development, hotels and catering, retail, laundry, banking, telecommunications and real estate agencies, as well as schools, public utilities and public/non-governmental organisations. Among them, over 3 300 participants fulfilling the pledge to switch off external lighting from 11pm to 7am were awarded the Platinum Award, while some 1 200 participants were awarded the Gold Award for switching off external lighting from midnight to 7am. In addition, more than 200 participants newly signed up to the Charter this year were granted certificates.
The ceremony also recognised the contributions made by three Partners of the Charter. The Chairperson of the Working Group on the Promotion of the Charter on External Lighting, Ms Caroline Mak, expressed appreciation to them for promoting corporate social responsibility and through their networks encouraging premises with external lighting installations to sign up to the Charter.
The Environment Bureau launched the Charter in April 2016 to invite owners of and responsible persons for external lighting installations to switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes that affect the outdoor environment during preset times (i.e. 11pm or midnight to 7am on the following day). The list of participants is available on the Charter's dedicated website (www.charteronexternallighting.gov.hk).
"The Government will commence a review on the effectiveness of the Charter, and consider the next step with regard to the findings," Mr Wong said.
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