Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04
CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
Head : 158 – Government Secretariat
Environment, Transport and Works Bureau
(Environment and Transport Branch)
Programme : (1) Environmental Protection and Conservation
Controlling Officer : Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
(Environment and Transport)
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question : As described in the Matters Requiring Special Attention in 2003-04 under the
above Programme, the Government undertakes to co-ordinate
inter-bureau/departmental efforts to improve the environmental impact
assessment (EIA) process for government works projects. Please provide
details of the relevant co-ordination work and the benchmarks that will be
adopted by the Government to assess the effectiveness of the co-ordination
work.
Asked by : Hon. CHENG Kar-foo, Andrew
Reply Serial No.
ETWB(E)070
Question Serial No.
0251
Reply : A number of measures have been adopted to enhance co-ordination among the
bureaux/departments concerned with a view to improving the EIA process for public
works projects. They include -
(a) Environmental Protection Department (EPD) strengthening its advisory role
during the EIA process;
(b) EPD organizing training sessions, seminars and liaison meetings to familiarize
works departments/agencies with the EIA procedures and requirements, and to
provide opportunities for experience sharing;
(c) works departments/agencies assuming a more proactive role in identifying and
addressing environmental concerns arising from their projects;
(d) enhancing the Environmental Study Management Group system that provides a
forum for EPD, other major authorities under the EIA Ordinance and project
proponents to examine environmental issues and mitigation measures of
designated projects at an early stage; and
(e) EPD, other major authorities under the EIA Ordinance and works
departments/agencies escalating issues that could not be satisfactorily resolved at
the working level to their senior management and, if necessary, the respective
bureau at the earliest possible opportunity.