Expert group meetings of APEC Energy Working Group held in Hong Kong (with photo)

     Two expert group meetings of the Energy Working Group (EWG) of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) were successfully held in Hong Kong from March 18 to 21.
      
     Delivering a speech at the welcome dinner yesterday (March 20), the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that Hong Kong, China would continue to play an active role in the EWG, and would work closely with our APEC partners to address energy issues affecting the region and the world.
      
     The two expert groups were the Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEE&C) and the Expert Group on New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET). The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has been representing Hong Kong, China, in the EWG and its expert groups since 1991. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Alfred Sit, said that collaboration with APEC economies is a crucial factor for meeting the energy saving target set by the APEC, and various parties in the APEC family would step further towards the goals of energy saving and adopting renewable energy through closer partnership.
      
     About 90 government officials and experts from the 12 APEC member economies attended the meetings and associated workshops this year to exchange views on energy challenges and opportunities the region is facing. Participants of the meetings will also visit the Zero Carbon Building and award-winning projects of the Energy Saving Championship Scheme, namely the Sha Tin campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the International Commerce Centre, tomorrow (March 22) to learn more about how Hong Kong has implemented energy efficiency and carbon reduction measures.
      
     The EGEE&C was established by the EWG in 1993 to assist the Asia-Pacific region in achieving energy security, advancing economic and social well-being, and realising environmental benefits through energy conservation and the application of energy efficiency practices and technologies. The EGNRET was established by the EWG in 1995 to promote the increased use of new and renewable energy technologies in the region.