BEC Event
27 February 2014: BEC Leadership Networking Series
This monthly event was staged as a spring dinner on 27 February, where about 40 BEC members and guests enjoyed a relaxing and enjoyable night in a Chinese restaurant recognised for its environmental measures.
Mr Andrew Lai, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, delivered a keynote presentation on Producer Responsibility Schemes as a strategic move towards sustainable waste management. The dinner also included the performance of Chinese calligraphy by BEC Board Director Ir Cary Chan, and a lucky draw by BEC Chairman Prof John Chai.
BEC Member Event
24 February 2014: Industry Visit to CityU Electronic Engineering Research Centres and Laboratories
In this event, participants were able to visit a number of research centres and laboratories of City University of Hong Kong. In the CityU Innovation Centre, its Director introduced the University’s invention Dielectric Resonator Antennas and its applications to the participants. Director of CityU Apps Lab demonstrated a mobile application that helps doctors retrieve patients' medical history in a fast, easy and secure way. Participants learned about the advanced acoustics facilities and experienced powerful sound effect in the CityU-KEF Acoustics Centre. They also visited the Centre for Smart Energy Conversion and Utilization Research to see the newly invented DC USB Charger which is more energy efficient and user-friendly.
BEC News
BEC Awarded Caring Organisation for a Consecutive Three Years
BEC has been recognised as a Caring Organisation by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for three consecutive years. The Caring Company Scheme aims at cultivating good corporate citizenship and raising public awareness of the contributions of the business and public sectors to the community. Being a Caring Organisation, BEC is recognised for its commitment towards caring for the community, its employees and the environment.
BEC Headquarters Named “Good” in Indoor Air Quality
BEC always maintains high standards of indoor air quality (IAQ) management practices in its headquarters building. Recently, the BEC headquarters building was awarded with the “Good Class” certificate under the Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme for Offices and Public Places administered by the Indoor Air Quality Information Centre. The certificate was presented by Ms Anissa Wong, the Permanent Secretary for the Environment, at the award ceremony held on 25 February. Obtaining "Good Class" in IAQ complies with BEAM Plus Existing Buildings’ requirements and helps BEC proceed further in transforming its headquarters building into an iconic showcase for greening existing buildings in Hong Kong.
Visit by Delegation of Environment Bureau of City of Kitakyushu, Japan
On 26 February, delegates of the Environment Bureau of City of Kitakyushu, Japan met with BEC and Hong Kong Green Building Council’s representatives to know more about the environmental contributions of the business sector, and the building energy measures in Hong Kong. During the visit, BEC representatives shared the government policies and the latest development on green building in the territory. The delegation also shared its efforts in energy management and in building a low carbon smart hub in the city.
BEC IEE Upcoming Programme Highlights
BEC IEE will organise a course “Permaculture for Sustainability” on 14 March for companies that are interested in learning about permaculture, which is an ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of human endeavour, stressing positivism and cooperation.
Meanwhile, BEC IEE also offers various environmental education programmes for business managers and decision makers in the coming months. Please visit BEC website to view more details and schedules of these programmes. For registration and enquiry, please contact Dr Veronica Chan at 2784 3937 or beciee@bec.org.hk.
BEC Partnership Programmes
EPD Glass Bottle Recycling Programme for Housing Estates
To better promote glass bottle recycling in Hong Kong and to pave way for the implementation of the Mandatory Producer Responsibility Scheme, the Environmental Protection Department has recently commissioned BEC to organise and manage the glass bottle recycling programmes in Sai Kung, Tuen Mun and North District from January 2014 to June 2015. Over 80 housing estates in these 3 districts have already participated in this Programme, enabling their residents to recycle glass bottles.
All housing estates and residential buildings in these 3 districts with proper management office are welcomed to join this Programme. Please contact Mr Jonathan Li at em_admin@bec.org.hk or 2784 3921 to learn more about the Programme.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition Public Voting Now Open
As an environmental advisor with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, BEC is pleased to announce that the public can now participate in the student competition by voting online for their favourite green ideas. Over the past three months, students have been hard at work developing ideas to improve Hong Kong’s environment using technology. The competition received more than 1,100 entries and 68% of Hong Kong schools participated.
Now it is your turn to get involved! Each voter can vote for one video from each of the primary, secondary and tertiary categories and each vote will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a Samsung GALAXY Note 8.0 LTE.
BEC Upcoming Event
27 March 2014: BEC Leadership Networking Series
The upcoming Leadership Networking Series has invited Mr Kevin Edmunds, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, to share the latest green building technologies. Mr Edmunds will use Phase 3 of Hong Kong Science Park as a case study to showcase the sustainable practice in Hong Kong. Leigh & Orange Limited will also share its experience in green building at the event.
For registration and enquiry, please contact Ms Joey Hui (T 2784 3958 | E joey@bec.org.hk).
BEC Upcoming Member Events
10 April 2014: Industry Visit to Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3
In this visit, participants will learn about how Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3 incorporates the latest green technologies and sustainable design in the buildings in order to facilitate its tenants to adopt green practices. To register for the Industry Visit, please contact Ms Kitty Wong (T 2784 3924 | E kitty@bec.org.hk).
12 April 2014: Industry Visit to Sha Tin Transfer Station
Sha Tin Transfer Station plays a crucial role in the whole waste management process. As one of the seven refuse transfer stations in Hong Kong, it handles nearly 1,000 tons of waste from Sha Tin, Tai Po and parts of the North District and East Kowloon every day. This upcoming Industry Visit allows participants to take a closer look at the key facilities of the Station. For registration and enquiry, please contact Ms Amy Ma (T 2784 3960 | E amy@bec.org.hk).
17 March 2014: BEC Policy Dialogue Series: Fuel Mix - Workshop II “Local Generation – Renewables and Conventionals”
Building on previous recommendations made in BEC policy submission paper on fuel mix, BEC is to host a policy dialogue series to deliberate topics specifically focusing on nuclear power, importing of electricity from Guangdong, and renewable and conventional generation in Hong Kong. The aim is to expose any misunderstandings in these areas and allow for facts to be presented in a balanced discussion way. Outcomes from the deliberations will help inform a BEC position in response to the Government’s upcoming fuel mix consultation. The first workshop, which covered issues on nuclear and imported power, took place on 3 March 2014. There will be a third workshop and 1 public forum to be held before the end of April 2014.
BEC members are welcomed to join the policy dialogue series. To register, please fill in the registration form and return to jill@bec.org.hk. For enquiry, please contact Mr Eric Chan (T 2784 3933 | E eric@bec.org.hk) or Ms Venneza Wong (T 2784 3928| E venneza@bec.org.hk).
BEC Members Corner
Legal Updates by Mayer Brown JSM
BEC’s General Member Mayer Brown JSM provides two legal updates recently. In the article titled "Air Pollution Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2013 Passed", its lawyers advised that the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Ordinance 2013 (Amendment Ordinance) was passed by the Legislative Council on 22 January 2014 and will come into operation on 4 April 2014. This Amendment Ordinance sought to amend the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap 311) by prohibiting (unless exempted) the use, supply, import and transhipment of all types of asbestos or asbestos-containing material, and to amend the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Regulation by prohibiting the use of all types of asbestos in industrial undertakings. For more on the update, please click here.
The Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation (Regulation) was gazetted on 17 January 2014. Subject to the approval of the Legislative Council, the Regulation will take effect on 1 April 2014. The Regulation seeks to regulate the quality of marine light diesel (MLD), light diesel oil used by marine vessels, including imposing a cap on the sulphur content of the MLD, so as to reduce emissions from marine vessels. The aim is to help improve the ambient air quality and reduce health risks for the population, particularly those in the coastal areas. For more, please read the Legal Update here.
"BEC Members Corner" is dedicated to BEC members to introduce their recent achievements, success stories, innovative ideas or solutions on environmental sustainability. Members could provide us an English write-up with a maximum of 200 words, which BEC will reserve the rights of editing and publishing. The submission deadline for the upcoming E-newsletter is 20 March 2014 (Thursday).
To submit an article or enquire about this section, please contact Ms Joey Hui (joey@bec.org.hk).
BEC Members Update
Please join BEC in welcoming the following members:
General Member
HUD General Engineering Services Ltd
Ocean Recovery Alliance Limited
The Lantau Group (HK) Limited
(Listed in alphabetical order of the companies’ name)
HBF Update
Please click on the link below to learn about the latest news and activities of BEC’s initiative Harbour Business Forum (HBF).
BEC Supporting Events
| 2014/15 SME Mentorship Programme (Application deadline: 18 March 2014) |
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| 26 - 28 Mar 2014 | Hong Kong Environment Trade Mission to GLOBE 2014 |
| 27 - 29 Mar 2014 | 2014 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition |
| Mar - Aug 2014 | Hang Seng Pan PRD Environmental Awards 2013/14 |
| 9 Apr 2014 | The HKIE Environmental Division Annual Seminar “Hong Kong Energy Challenges & Solutions” |
| 7 May 2014 | Moving into the Frontier |
| 21 - 24 May 2014 | The Certified Energy Manager (CEM®) Program for Professional Certification |
| 26 - 28 May 2014 | Certified Carbon Auditor Professional (CAP) |
| Environmental Education Creative Competition 2014 |