The Green Event Pledge Kick-off Ceremony organised by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) was held on 27 September, with the participation of a total of 45 organisations including property developers, banks, public and non-profit making organisations, community groups, district organisations, universities and the exhibition and convention industry. At the ceremony, all organisations agreed and committed to try their best to adhere to a green event guidebook regarding organisation and sponsorship of future events, in pursuit of enhancing their environmental efforts and promoting waste reduction in Hong Kong.
The EPD and Business Environment Council (BEC) have collaborated to publish a green event guidebook called ‘A Waste Reduction Guidebook For Large Scale Event Organisers’ which encourages organisations to organise more green events and suggests how they can achieve waste reduction before the events by preventing the production of waste, during the events by collecting waste and recyclables effectively, and after the events by donating, reusing and recycling appropriate materials. The guidebook also outlines the successful experience of some past events and commended their efforts in waste reduction, which include the Hong Kong Sevens 2016 and 2017, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2017, CCB (Asia) Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2017, etc.
Moreover, Mr. Wong Kam-sing, the Secretary for the Environment, proposed three vital concepts in regards to waste reduction in Hong Kong which are determination, sincerity and creativity. He hopes that enterprises and organisations can be more determined in inspiring staff and stakeholders to launch green events, demonstrate more sincerity in their participation of green campaigns, and be more creative in promoting green values in society to become the new trend. It is also expected that the green event guidebook can help further publicise the message of “dump less, save more, recycle right”, while enterprises can incorporate social responsibilities in the organisation of and participation in large-scale events, thus creating a positive image of “city of green events” of Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government are trying to spread the green culture at not only organizational level, but also community level by means of cognitive education, award promotion and enhanced supportive measures.
Source: www.gov.hk
