[19] On the other hand, the Government has implemented over the years a wide range of measures targeting the major local air pollution emission sources (i.e. vehicles, vessels and power plants).

[22] From 2019 onwards, vessels are further required to use low-sulphur fuel within Hong Kong waters to dovetail with the establishment of the first marine emission control area in the Mainland China.

In addition, the Government launched the $2 billion EV-charging at Home Subsidy Scheme (EHSS)[27] in October 2020 to subsidise the installation of electric vehicle charging-enabling infrastructure in car parks of existing private residential buildings.

; Big Waster on Facebook and Big Waster on Instagram have been set up to convey food waste reduction and other green messages to the public and foster interaction with supporters, especially young people; and non-governmental organisations have been funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund to promote surplus food donation, etc.

e) Turn waste into energy: T‧PARK was fully commissioned in April 2016 to treat sludge from the sewage treatment works and generate energy; a large-scale advanced municipal solid waste incineration plant (the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1) is being constructed near Shek Kwu Chau; a network of Organic Resources Recovery Centres (O‧PARKs) is being built in phases,[46][47] of which O‧PARK1 has been in operation since July 2018, while O‧PARK2 is now under construction and is targeted to be commissioned in 2023;[48][49] meanwhile, trials on the innovative food waste/sewage sludge anaerobic co-digestion technology for processing food waste are being carried out at the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works and the Sha Tin Sewage Treatment Works.

The Government also announced that it planned to develop I·PARK2 at the middle ash lagoon at Tsang Tsui in Tuen Mun and a comprehensive territory-wide site search study would be commenced to identify other potential sites suitable for developing waste-to-energy facilities, so as to implement the strategies set out in Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035[50] f) Turn waste into resources: WEEE‧PARK, which commenced full operation in March 2018, adopts state-of-the-art technologies for proper recycling and treatment of locally generated WEEE.

Members of the public not purchasing a new regulated electrical equipment (REE) item can also call the hotline to make an appointment for a free door-to-door collection service.

[51] As at September 2021, WEEE‧PARK has processed over 75 000 tonnes (about 2.62 million pieces) of WEEE, including about 610 000 washing machines, 330 000 refrigerators, 450 000 televisions, 270 000 air-conditioners and 960 000 computer products, so as to turn waste into resources.

In February 2021, the Government announced that the proposed non-in-situ land exchange would proceed for the long-term conservation of this area renowned for having marshes and streams among woodland and being a sanctuary for dragonflies.

[55][56] The Government implemented the amended Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586) in May 2018 to enhance regulations on import and re-export of ivory and elephant hunting trophies, to progressively phase out the local ivory trade by the end of 2021, and to increase penalties on smuggling and illegal trade in endangered species to deter related activities.

At the same time, the restricted period would be extended to seven months (i.e. from 1 April to 31 October) each year, so as to strengthen the protection of the Green Turtle nesting ground on the beach at Sham Wan on Lamma Island.

[62] The Government announced in the 2021 Budget that $500 million would be set aside to carry out enhancement works on facilities in some country parks, so as to enrich visitors’ experience and enjoyment at the countryside.

The Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 announced in October 2021 put forward the decarbonisation strategy of “net-zero electricity generation”.

By developing RE, trying out the use of new energy and strengthening co-operation with neighbouring regions, the Government aims to achieve the long-term target of net-zero electricity generation before 2050.

Since 2018, it has introduced Feed-in Tariff (FiT) and a number of facilitating measures, which includes relaxing the restrictions on the installation of solar energy generation systems on the rooftops of “village houses”,[68] exempting individuals participating in the FiT Scheme from applying for business registration and paying related profits tax,[69] and introducing facilitation measures on installation of solar photovoltaic systems in open car parks by private sector.

The Government is also actively developing larger-scale RE projects in suitable reservoirs, sewage treatment and flood prevention facilities, as well as restored landfills.

As at September 2021, about 130 projects have been approved, including installation of solar energy generation systems at government offices, government quarters, schools, recreational grounds-cum-rest gardens, reservoirs and pedestrian links, as well as installation of waste-to-energy and hydro power systems at multiple sewage treatment plants.

At the same time, the Government will study the feasibility of incorporating district cooling system (DCS) in more new development areas, and make full use of green innovation and technology to optimise the operation of DCSs.