Environmental Policy and Objectives

The Department endeavours to cultivate a green culture among staff.

The Department strives to fully support the environmental protection and sustainable development of Hong Kong. We are committed to ensuring that all the services delivered to the public as well as our internal operations are conducted in compliance with environmental protection principles and practices according to the requirements under the environmental legislation, codes of practices and the Clean Air Charter as appropriate. The Department also endeavours to cultivate a green culture among staff members so that they can adopt green practices in their daily lives.

Environmental Management

The Departmental Secretary was appointed as the Green Manager of the Department. He was responsible for overseeing and formulating environmental protection policies and measures in the Department.

A green area at Shenzhen Bay Control Point

Division Heads also played an active role in exploring and promoting environmental protection initiatives and monitoring the green measures to be extensively implemented in the offices under their purview.

In 2011, the Department appointed over 100 Energy Wardens at sub-divisional level. They were responsible for ensuring that the housekeeping energy conservation measures had been taken effectively. In this regard, Energy Wardens conducted periodical checks on office premises and reminded colleagues of the need to conform with the green measures, such as:

• Switch off unnecessary lighting.
• Activate hibernation mode for computers.
• Switch off lights, computers, photocopiers and other office equipment when they were not in use.
• Adjust indoor temperature to the recommended 25.5˚C level during summer months.
• Conserve water and shut off taps properly after use.

The Resources Management Committee, which was personally chaired by the Deputy Director and consisted of members of senior management, closely monitored the paper and electricity consumption at its monthly meetings. The consumption records were regularly updated and uploaded onto our intranet portal so that management at the sectional and divisional level could have a holistic view on the resources used to facilitate their monitoring process.

Environmental Performance

Energy Conservation

Prominent labels reminding staff to switch off lights after use.

Conservation of energy was always our prime concern. In 2011, about 41 million kWh of power was consumed by the Department, representing a mild increase of 0.5 per cent when compared to 2010 due to an increase in operational activities such as the commencement of services of the new arrival hall at Shenzhen Bay Control Point in April 2011 and the substantial increase in number of cases handled by Torture Claim Assessment Sections.

To identify areas of inefficiency and explore energy saving opportunities, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) was invited to carry out energy audits in various outstation offices and control points. In consideration of the recommendations of energy audits, the Department introduced a series of energy saving measures to further reducing power consumption. The following projects were carried out in 2011:

• The de-lamping exercise to lower the illumination level of areas including corridors, changing rooms, washroom and back office in Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point, Sha Tau Kok Control Point and Airport.
• The reinstatement of operation of thermal wheels for air handling units served in the Arrival and Departure Halls of Lok Ma Chau Control Point to recover the heat energy.
• The replacement of T8 florescent tubes with more energy-efficient T5 florescent tubes in the Airport.
• The replacement of conventional ‘EXIT’ sign with more energy-saving LED-type sign at Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre.

In support of environmental protection campaign, the Department participated in the ‘Earth Hour 2011’ organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature in March 2011. The decorative lighting for the Passengers Terminal Building (Hong Kong side) at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and lighting for the name ‘Lok Ma Chau Control Point’ on the exterior wall of the passenger hall at this control point was switched off during the campaign period.

Minimisation of Paper Consumption

With the concerted efforts of staff members, the paper consumption of the Department was 60 352 reams in 2011, signifying a decrease of usage by 2 per cent when compared to 61 733 reams in 2010.

In order to sustain the Department’s achievement in minimising paper consumption, the Department had adopted various measures both externally and internally to conserve the use of paper:

External

• Provide members of the public with a number of e-Services such as online application, online reporting of immigration offences as well as e-submission of various applications or notifications. These e-Services did not only provide convenient means for the public to acquire our services, but also helped save the use of paper.

Internal

• Make use of information technology, such as communication by e-mail and use of intranet portal as an information sharing platform extensively.
• Distribute the internal circulars and notices as well as posting orders through electronic means.
• Use both sides of paper and greater use of the blank side of used paper for drafting, faxing, printing and photocopying documents.

The blank side of old forms could be used for printing.

The above measures received extensive acceptance from both the public and internal staff. The Department would continue to adopt information technology as far as practicable to create a paperless working environment.

E-Procurement Programme

The Department was one of the three government departments participating in a pilot programme for e-Procurement. e-Procurement System (e-PS) was fully launched in the Department in February 2011 and would further enhance to cater bulk purchase items.

The e-PS was able to reduce the paper consumption and storage space effectively. It also helped promote green procurement by sharing green procurement information among pilot departments through the internal e-Procurement portal. Procurement related information such as government’s policy, application method, etc. could be accessed by the suppliers through the external e-Procurement portal. The ultimate goal of the programme was to automate and streamline the procurement procedures, which would be more cost-effective and less dependent on traditional paper-based mode.

The e-Procurement System

Recycling of Waste and Recovery of Resources

In view of the need to raise the awareness of staff and public on the importance of recycling of waste, the Immigration Tower had participated in the ‘Programme on Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste’ initiated by the Environmental Protection Department since 2008. The quantity of waste paper, aluminum cans and plastic bottles collected in 2011 was compared to the figure in 2010 in the table below:

The litter cum recyclables collection box at Immigration Tower

As aforementioned, the paper consumption of the Department had dropped and thus constituted to a reduction in recyclable waste paper collected. In addition to the traditional wastes, other recyclable wastes including rechargeable batteries were also collected through the collection boxes. Through reuse and recycling of solid waste, we believed that both staff and the public would become increasingly aware of the importance of these actions to lead a greener life.

Minimisation of the use of resources could help conserve our environment. In this connection, great efforts had been made to reduce the use of consumable items. The quantity of items procured in 2011 was compared to the figure in 2010 in the table below:

In the midst of increase in workload and operational activities, there was an increase in items procured in 2011. The Department would strive to monitor the use of consumable items and adopt pragmatic strategies to reduce usage.

With a view to further minimise solid waste, used printer cartridges had been returned to the suppliers by means of trade-in. The returned quantity decreased by 25 per cent from 1 775 pcs in 2010 to 1 327 pcs in 2011. The Department also included green specifications for stock items so that products that caused minimal adverse environmental impacts were purchased.

Support on Clean Air Charter

In support of the Clean Air Charter which aimed at improving the air quality of Hong Kong, the Department had taken the following measures to reduce the adverse impact of vehicles and vessels to the environment:

• Purchase environmentally friendly type vehicles for replacement.
• Encourage staff members to share the pool car and combine their trips as far as practicable in order to fully utilise the vehicles and reduce mileage.
• Ensure proper maintenance of our departmental vehicles.
• Check the vehicles and vessels regularly in order to minimise the production of pollutants and nuisance caused by exhaust emissions.

In 2011, the total fuel consumption in diesel and oil of the vehicle team of the Immigration Headquarters was 66 681 litres, representing a decrease of 8 per cent when compared to 2010. On the other hand, the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas was 54 940 litres, which had increased 9 per cent when compared to 2010. The consumption of fuel by our fleet of seven vessels was 1 146 200 litres, indicating a decrease of about 12 per cent when compared to 2010’s usage of 1 296 900 litres.

A better working environment could enhance the efficiency of staff members. Thus, the Department had participated in the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Certificate Scheme to ensure good indoor air quality and safeguard the health of staff members. In 2011, the indoor air quality of Immigration Tower and Sha Tin Marriage Registry was awarded ‘Good Class’.

Promotion of Staff Awareness

To promote environmental awareness amongst staff, the Department disseminated latest news and useful information to staff through e-mails and intranet portal. Staff members were also encouraged to participate in promotional activities arranged by different organisations.

The Department successfully completed a ‘Green Smart Office Competition’ aiming at encouraging staff to suggest effective and practical measures to reduce the use of resources in April 2011. A total of 45 activities had been held during a seven-month period which included ‘No Driving Days’, ‘Encouraging the Use of Stairs’, ‘Greening of Office’ and ‘Green Visits’. Useful insights on resources conservation had been collected throughout the competition.

Labels to appeal for staff support on minimising the use of paper cups

 

‘Mooncake Tin Collection Campaign’ poster

The Department also participated in environmental protection campaigns organised by other organisations such as ‘The Community Chest Green Day’ organised by The Community Chest which encouraged participants to take public transport in order to reduce carbon dioxide emission, the ‘Mooncake Tin Collection Campaign’ and ‘Red Pocket Recycling Campaign’ organised by the Building Management Office of the Immigration Tower.

Promotion poster for a recycling campaign organised by Shenzhen Bay Control Point

 

A green corner at Man Kam To Control Point

To foster green culture among staff members, the Department had set up green corners at various offices for putting posters, green tips and latest news concerning green matters. The information posted on the green corners would be renewed periodically.

The Way Forward

The Department shall continue to apply practical housekeeping measures, adopt green management principles in all activities and implement green initiatives in the Department as appropriate. The Department shall also explore the feasibility of using new technologies including renewable energy to further enhance the effectiveness of energy performance and promote environmental protection.

The solar thermal collectors on the rooftop of Shenzhen Bay Control Point