In a breakfast meeting organised by Business Environment Council (BEC) on 29 January 2013, the Under Secretary for the Environment Ms Christine Loh expressed keen interest in working with the business community represented by BEC to tackle various demanding environmental issues. At the event in which over 120 guests attended, Ms Loh elaborated the environmental measures announced in the Chief Executive’s 2013 Policy Address, exchanged views with the representatives from the BEC Board of Directors in a panel discussion and answered questions from other participants during a very engaging and constructive 2-hour meeting.
In the panel discussion between Ms Loh and the BEC Directors, namely BEC Chairman Prof John Chai, Mr Richard Lancaster of CLP Power, Mr Derek Smyth of Gammon Construction, Mr Edmond Ho of Kowloon Motor Bus and Ir T C Yee of Power Assets, environmental topics ranging from construction waste management, to local transportation management, cross-boundary air quality and climate change were discussed.
Throughout the meeting, Ms Loh highlighted various areas in which BEC and its members could play an important role, including active involvement in public engagement exercises for developing action plans for the various environmental issues. She also opined that working groups or inter-disciplinary groups would be needed to deal with some of the environmental issues in Hong Kong.
Ms Loh remarked, “We will have active engagement and collaboration with the business and civil society sectors. I certainly will be very interested to have on-going discussions with BEC. I believe that there are areas that BEC could have considerable ideas and influences.”
BEC Chairman Prof John Chai emphasised that “the business community represented by BEC is pledging to be involved in the environmental efforts Government is planning to coordinate. We can be counted on for inputs and contribution.”
On closing, BEC Chief Executive Officer Ms Agnes Li commented, “BEC looks forward to more communication with Government to express our views, present our recommendations, and contribute our support for the well-being of Hong Kong’s environment.”
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Further reading on BEC’s recommendations on Hong Kong’s policy measures:
http://bec.org.hk/resource-centre/public-policy-submissions.
Discussion on Hong Kong’s environmental measures between Ms Christine Loh and BEC Board representatives.
(from left) BEC Board Directors Ir T C Yee, Mr Derek Smyth, BEC Chairman Prof John Chai, Under Secretary for the Environment Ms Christine Loh, BEC Board Directors Mr Richard Lancaster and Mr Edmond Ho
Ms Christine Loh, Under Secretary for the Environment elaborating the environmental measures in the 2013 Policy Address at BEC breakfast meeting on 29 January 2013
Photo BEC Board representatives and BEC CEO have an open discussion with Under Secretary for the Environment
(from left) BEC CEO Ms Agnes Li, BEC Board Directors Mr Richard Lancaster, Mr David Dumigan, Mr Derek Symth, Under Secretary for the Environment Ms Christine Loh, BEC Chairman Prof John Chai, and Board Directors Ir T C Yee, Mr Edmond Ho and Mr Victor Kwong
Over 140 participants join the breakfast meeting with Under Secretary for the Environment