The department's power consumption in 2022 decreased by 1.73 per cent when compared with the previous year, with the total consumption being about 50 million kWh. The department will continue to implement a series of energy saving measures to reduce energy consumption.

The department will conduct carbon audits on those control points and buildings with annual electricity consumption exceeding 500,000 kWh. The findings will help us find out and measure our carbon footprints for the formulation of appropriate carbon reduction measures.

The department has been working in close collaboration with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to identify and implement various practicable energy saving measures. For instance, air-conditioning and cooling systems are regularly inspected and necessary maintenance is conducted to control the electricity consumption. The department has also actively implemented recommendations from the EMSD by replacing the aged air-conditioning units with parts of higher energy efficiency.

To reduce energy consumption as far as practicable, the department will continue to take the following green measures:

The department has been committed to advocating the reduction of paper consumption. Our paper consumption in 2022 decreased by 2.73 per cent when compared with the previous year. The department will make sustained efforts to reduce paper consumption with a view to introducing its diversified range of measures to minimise paper consumption both externally and internally, including:

Externally

• Enabling members of the public to have a quick and paperless access to information via the electronic information sharing platform on the departmental website and mobile application.
• Providing members of the public with a number of e-Services, such as online application, online appointment booking, online reporting of immigration offences and registration of outbound travel information. The e-Services not only facilitate the public's use of our services, but also help reduce paper consumption.

Internally

• Making use of electronic means such as emails and our intranet portal as an information sharing platform to communicate and disseminate information as far as possible.
• Distributing internal circulars and notices as well as posting orders through electronic means.
• Avoiding printing or photocopying documents unless hard copies are absolutely necessary.
• Using both sides of every sheet of paper and utilising the blank side of used sheets for drafting, faxing, printing and photocopying documents.
• Reusing envelopes and file covers.
• Using recycled paper.
• Using the Electronic Leave Application and Processing System for leave application and approval, and the e-Procurement System for procurement.
• Sending out electronic greeting cards during festive seasons.

The green measures listed above have been widely accepted by both members of the public and our staff. The department will continue to adopt information technology as far as practicable and closely monitor our paper consumption to create a paperless work environment.

To raise the staff's and public's awareness of the benefits of waste recycling for the environment, the Immigration Tower participated in the 'Programme on Source Separation of Commercial and Industrial Waste' initiated by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

Apart from ordinary waste, other recyclable waste including rechargeable batteries, fluorescent tubes and CD-ROMs were also collected through collection boxes.

To further minimise solid waste and protect the environment, the department continued to return used printer cartridges to suppliers by means of trade-in. The department also procured stock items according to green specifications to ensure that the products to be purchased would make minimal adverse impacts on the environment.

To implement the Clean Air Charter, which aims at improving air quality in Hong Kong, the department adopted the following measures in daily operations to minimise the adverse impacts of our vehicles and vessels on the environment as far as practicable:

• Encouraging staff members to share pool cars and combine their trips whenever practicable to fully utilise the vehicles and reduce mileage.
• Planning routes in advance when using departmental vehicles to shorten journeys and travelling time.
• Encouraging the use of public transport whenever possible.
• Ensuring compliance with the requirement for switching off vehicle engines while waiting under the Motor Vehicle Idling (Fixed Penalty) Ordinance (Cap. 611, Laws of Hong Kong) to reduce exhaust emissions and achieve fuel saving.
• Ensuring proper maintenance of departmental vehicles and vessels to minimise the production of pollutants and nuisance caused by exhaust emissions.

The total fuel consumption of the vehicle and vessel fleets of the department decreased by 3.34 per cent from 1,079,643 litres in 2021 to 1,043,550 litres in 2022. The department will continue to make its best effort to minimise the fuel consumption and emissions of our vehicle and vessel fleets.

The department has all along endeavoured to provide a better work environment for its staff. In this connection, the Immigration Tower has participated in the Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme to ensure good indoor air quality to safeguard the health of our staff. This year, the indoor air quality of the Immigration Tower was assessed as having achieved the 'Good Class' grading.

To foster a green culture among staff members, the department continued to disseminate to staff through emails and our intranet portal the latest news and useful information on environmental protection, such as encouraging staff members to minimise the use of disposable plastic tableware as urged by the EPD. Staff members were also encouraged to participate in environmental protection campaigns arranged by other departments/organisations, such as the 'Green Low Carbon Day' organised by the Community Chest, which encouraged participants to adopt a greener lifestyle, such as taking public transport and supporting the recycling of waste; the 'Earth Hour' organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature, which encouraged participants to switch off non-essential lights at the appointed time for an hour; and the 'Moon Cake Box Recycling Programme','Red Packet, Candy/Biscuit Box Recycling Campaign' and 'No Air Con Night' organised by the building management office of the Immigration Tower.

To enhance staff's environmental awareness, the department has publicised green tips and the latest news relating to green matters at various offices. The information is updated periodically.