Business Environment Council Launches “Road Transport Dialogue Platform”

Hong Kong, 20 Nov 2017 - Business Environment Council Limited 商界環保協會有限公司 (“BEC”) successfully launched the “Road Transport Dialogue Platform” today with the support of the HKSAR Government. Under Secretary for the Environment, Mr CW Tse, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Raymond So and other representatives from the Government joined over 25 business leaders from the transport and logistics industry in the platform’s first meeting today, agreeing to work collaboratively towards reducing the industry’s carbon emission and improving Hong Kong’s air quality.

Under Secretary for the Environment, Mr CW Tse said, “Air pollution does not have to be part and parcel of our daily life. Due to efforts made in reducing emissions from the vehicle fleet and other sources, we have seen some improvement in air quality in the past few years. However, still a lot more needs to be done and the Environment Bureau looks forward to collaborating with all sectors of the community to bring cleaner and healthier air to this city as well as develop a low carbon life style.”

“The Transport and Housing Bureau strives to provide a safe, efficient, reliable and environmentally-friendly transport system with multi-modal choices that meets the community’s economic and social needs.  We look forward to working closely with the business community in achieving our common vision of enhancing the livability, sustainability, mobility and connectivity of our city,” said Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Raymond So.

BEC’s Road Transport Dialogue Platform serves as a forum for businesses which own or control large fleets of vehicles to come together and work with the Government towards reducing Hong Kong’s carbon emissions. These companies include bus and coach companies, and also those who manage delivery vehicles, service vehicles, construction vehicles and logistics. There will be 3 to 5 more regular meetings for the Dialogue Platform in 2018, and occasional meetings with the Government on specific policy issues exclusively for BEC members.

CEO of BEC, Mr Adam Koo said, “Hong Kong’s air quality remains an issue, despite the huge steps taken in the past few years to reduce emissions from vehicles, and there is more to be done to reduce carbon emissions from transport and logistics too. BEC is very pleased therefore to bring businesses together, with THB and ENB support, to work with each other and with Government to speed up the momentum towards a cleaner road transport & logistics system. This initiative shows how committed the business community is, doing its share to enhance liveability of the territory for Hong Kong’s residents as well as contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy.”

The platform aims to explore action in relation to the following: transitioning to low emission vehicles and using low emission fuels, smart systems such as for logistics routing and encouraging good driver practices, and other means of minimizing congestion and speeding up the movement of vehicles.

For more information on the Platform, please refer to the flyer of the initial meeting:

https://goo.gl/5S4uvu

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For media enquiries:

Director – Development

Mr William Lin

Tel: 2784 3939

Email: william@bec.org.hk

Officer – Communications

Mr Tenniel Tao

Tel: 2784 3922

Tel: tennieltao@bec.org.hk

About Business Environment Council Limited

Business Environment Council Limited 商界環保協會有限公司 (“BEC”) is an independent, charitable membership organisation, established by the business sector in Hong Kong. Since its establishment in 1992, BEC has been at the forefront of promoting environmental excellence by advocating the uptake of clean technologies and practices which reduce waste, conserve resources, prevent pollution and improve corporate environmental and social responsibility. BEC offers sustainable solutions and professional services covering advisory, research, assessment, training and award programmes for government, business and the community, thus enabling environmental protection and contributing to the transition to a low carbon economy.

For speaker and more conference photos, please visit:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kxQOsov5c37jXSDivOdN5GafZSnwWfOH

(From left to right) Mr TC Yee, Chairman of BEC Transport and Logistics Advisory Group; Mr CW Tse, Under Secretary for the Environment; Prof Raymond So, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing; Ms Maya de Souza, BEC Senior Manager – Policy Research

Under Secretary for Transport and Housing Prof Raymond So explains the Government’s plan for providng environmentally-friendly transport system

Under Secretary for the Environment Mr CW Tse talks about the Government’s effort in reducing carbon emissions

Business leaders from the transport and logistics industry share views on policies and issues related to roadside emissions and transportation