Press Release 2008
Seminar on "Environmental Protection - a challenge or an opportunity?" concludes successfully
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Hong Kong Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (HKCPEC) and the Trade and Industry Department (TID) today (March 26) organised a seminar on "Environmental Protection - a challenge or an opportunity?". More than 100 representatives from the industrial and commercial sectors attended.
Speaking at the seminar, the Chairman of the HKCPEC Professor Edward Chen Kwan-yiu gave an overview on the establishment and work of HKCPEC. He said HKCPEC has been paying close attention to issues raised at the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) meetings, such as trade liberalisation, investment and trade facilitation. In recent years, the PECC put special emphasis on environmental protection. In the PECC General Meeting held in Australia last year, member committees expressed concern over climate change. The HKCPEC was therefore organising a seminar this year to highlight the importance of environmental protection, he said.
During the seminar, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Productivity Council Mr Wilson Fung Wing-yip introduced how cleaner production could help enterprises enhance their competitiveness and how investment in environmental protection could help cut overall expenditure. Managing Director of Dunwell Enviro-Tech (Holdings) Limited Mr Daniel M Cheng and Managing Director of Fook Tin Technologies Limited Dr John Chai Yat-chiu shared with participants their invaluable experience in implementing environmental management measures and green manufacturing.
Head of Strategy Development of the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited Mr Sham Man-fai introduced the company's Landfill Gas Utilisation project, which turns renewable energy into business opportunities; while Vice President of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Asia Pacific Region of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited Mr Barry Kwong Man-cheong spoke on corporate environmental responsibility.
The seminar is organised with the support of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Hong Kong Productivity Council.
PECC is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1980 with the objective of serving as a regional forum for co-operation and policy co-ordination to promote economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. PECC is tripartite in nature comprising representatives from the academic, business and government sectors. HKCPEC was established in 1990 to advise the Government on matters relating to Hong Kong's participation in PECC. It is currently chaired by Professor Chen and comprises 12 members from the academic, business and government sectors.
Currently, PECC has 26 members, of which 22 are full members representing the economies of Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Ecuador; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; the Pacific Islands Forum; Peru; the Philippines; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam; two associate members representing France (Pacific Territories) and Mongolia; and two institutional members which are the Pacific Trade and Development Conference (PAFTAD) and Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC).
Ends