Hong Kong, 17 May 2019 － Business Environment Council Limited 商界環保協會有限公司 (“BEC”) held its flagship event, the EnviroSeries Conference today at The Mira Hong Kong. Entitled “The Business of Waste – Solving Hong Kong’s Urgent Environmental Problem”, the Conference served as a platform for business leaders, government officers, policy makers and entrepreneurs to explore the problems, opportunities and future strategies in Hong Kong’s waste management system, and to inspire innovative thinking and actions for a more sustainable Hong Kong. The conference attracted over 200 participants, including policy makers, industry experts, business leaders and academics, a new record since its debut in 2002.
“The waste challenge often tops our agenda in the area of environmental protection. We are taking a multi-pronged approach to promote the green culture of ‘Use Less, Waste Less’. Sitting at the centre of our overall waste reduction strategy is the implementation of MSW charging, which aims to create financial incentives to drive behavioural changes and encourage community to practise waste reduction at source and clean recycling more proactively.” Guest of Honour Mr Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment said in his keynote speech.
Mr Wong Kam-sing added, “Managing waste in any city is an intensive service, which is challenging and we simply cannot do it on our own, but also with different stakeholders in various sectors and the community at large. The contribution from and collaboration with the business sectors and the community is essential. Let’s work together to build a ‘Use Less, Waste Less’ city. ”
“It is encouraging to hear from the speakers that there were sharper focus and greater effort on waste management and sustainable resource management in the last few years. While the government continues to work at full steam in putting forward a masterplan of waste management, we are also pleased to learn that the Hong Kong business sector is also taking a proactive approach towards waste avoidance and reduction. Despite all the risks and challenges, underlying business opportunities on better waste and resource management were well identified across industries. We are glad to see a concerted effort made by different players, including the government, business sector, trade associations, research institutes, professional bodies and others, for better waste and resource management in Hong Kong.” Mr Richard Lancaster, Chairman of Business Environment Council, said in his closing remarks.
At the Conference, speakers and panels explored the recent developments, progress, and the next steps in Hong Kong’s waste management system. It is hoped that business leadership and action will inspire their peers and the wider community to step up to the challenge of reducing waste. Among the speakers and guests at the Conference were (in order of appearance):
- Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker: Mr Wong Kam-sing, GBS, JP, Secretary for the Environment, HKSAR Government
- Ms Vicky Pollard, EU Environment and Climate Counsellor in China
- Mr Merlin Lao, Programme Manager, ICLEI East Asia Secretariat
- Mr Donald Ng, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection
- Mr Raymond Fong, General Manager, Environmental Management Division, Hong Kong Productivity Council
- Dr Tin Lau, Technical Manager, Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Limited
- Mr Philippe Li, Business Development Manager, HK Recycles
- Mr Norman Cheng, Executive Committee Member, Hong Kong Waste Management Association
- Mr Tom Uiterwaal, Chairman, The Environment and Energy Business Council of the European Chamber
- Mr C.W. Cheung, Director – Development, BEC
- Mr Craig Leeson, Founder of Leeson Media, Director/Writer/Executive producer of “A Plastic Ocean” and Chief Global Evangelist for the Plastic Oceans Foundation
- Mr Charles Cheung, Senior Environmental Protection Officer, Environmental Protection Department
- Mr Edwin Lau, Executive Director, Green Earth
- Ms Geraldine Leung, Sales Director, Metsä Tissue Greaseproof Papers, APAC
- Ms Katie Tang, Head of Corporate, Foodpanda
- Mr William Davies, General Manager – Sustainability, Swire Beverages
- Mr Simon Ng, Director – Policy & Research, BEC
- Ms Theresa Wu, Senior Environmental Protection Officer, Environmental Protection Department
- Mr Michael Shung, Senior Procurement Manager, Supply Chain, Maxim’s Group
- Ms Kristy Tan, Manager, Environment, Airport Authority Hong Kong
- Ms Ellie Tang, Head of Sustainability, New World Development Company Limited
- Mr Henry Ho, Assistant Environmental & Hygiene Manager, Quality Assurance Department, Cathay Pacific Catering Services (H.K.) Ltd.
- Ms Aurea Yung, Head of Operations, Foodlink Foundation
- Ir C.F. Leung, Director – Operations, BEC
Staged twice a year, EnviroSeries Conference is BEC’s flagship event that aims to provide a cross-sector forum for stakeholders to discuss and address key issues related to Hong Kong’s environmental sustainability, and serves as a BEC’s key initiative for thought leadership development on important topical issues. For more information about BEC EnviroSeries Conference, please visit https://bit.ly/2CS85B1 (Registration Closed) .
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