Project Clear Air - Charter (English)

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The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment have joined forces with the Greater Pearl River Delta Business Council, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Guangdong Sub-Council and Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection Industry to encourage Hong Kong and Guangdong companies to support and implement the Clean Air Charter on a voluntary basis. The Charter lists six key areas in which businesses can make a difference to reduce air pollution. We urge all businesses to:

donald_tsang.jpg (20135 bytes) The Chief Executive Donald Tsang calls on business to sign the Clean Air Charter

"The Government has agreed to sign the Charter as the largest employer in Hong Kong. We are serious about doing the best we can." (The Chief Executive signed the Clean Air Charter on behalf of the HKSAR Government, 27 Nov 06)

"We are pleased to see the business sector stepping forward with the Clean Air Charter and published this Business Guidebook, which gives practical advice on how enterprises may help implement environment-friendly measures in their daily operations. We fully support this meaningful initiative." (Message for the Business Guidebook, 27 Nov 06)

I would be remiss if I did not commend the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the rest of the business community for exhibiting leadership with the Clean Air Charter. To date, over 300 companies and organisations have signed the Charter, including all the foreign international chambers in Hong Kong. We are very mindful to the Charter's underlying message: that the business community demands action on the issue of air pollution, on both sides of the boundary." (Joint Business Community Luncheon, 17 Oct 06)

"All of us will be able to help make a difference to our air quality if we are committed to energy saving." (Policy Address, Oct 06)

"Every small step taken by each individual to support the clean-air initiatives in our daily lives can help reduce air pollution." (Action Blue Sky Launching Ceremony, 25 July 2006)

"The business community has taken the lead by promoting a Clear Air Charter, which the Government wholeheartedly endorses. I urge investors in the Pearl River Delta to observe the Clean Air Charter and adopt cleaner manufacturing practices there, as well as here." (Letter to HK, 23 July 2006)

"The Clear Air Charter, initiated by the business sector last year, is a good start. The Government will show its support by endorsing the Charter." (Opening remarks at Question and Answer Session in Legislative Council, 10 Jul 2006)

"They should sign the Charter and clean up their factories." (Hong Kong Association of Banks Luncheon, 26 Apr 2006. Mr Tsang referred to Hong Kong businesses with operations in the PRD.)

"I am much encouraged by the initiative taken by the business community to sign a Clean Air Charter."
(HKGCC 145th Anniversary Dinner, 25 Apr 2006. Mr Tsang also called on the Chamber to encourage more companies to adopt green initiatives.)

"I commend the HKGCC for this initiative (Project Clean Air) and I look forward to seeing more companies making a contribution to cleaner air for all." (Newspaper supplements, 21 Oct 05)

"I am very happy about that. That's a very important scheme!" (Joint Chambers Luncheon, 17 Oct 05)

"I know that our business community has taken the initiative to sign a Clean Air Charter." (Policy Address, Oct 05)

charterheader.jpg (27030 bytes)

Hong Kong - Guangdong Business Coalition on the Environment
Clean Air Charter

We recognise that improving air quality will require emissions reductions in the business community, and many of these reductions will result in additional business capital and/or operating costs. We support the development of fair, practical and cost-effective air quality management policy, and in addition:

Statement of commitment

Implementation

We will voluntarily:

Signatories to this Charter undertake to implement appropriate measures to put their commitment into effect.

Operate by a recognised world class standard, or the standards established by the Hong Kong / Guangdong governments on emissions of air pollutants, even if it is not a requirement to do so here.

Each participant can identify the relevant standard, and if not meeting it today, make plans to meet it. Participants with significant emissions should state which standard they are operating by, and how they are performing relative to that standard. Participants that are working towards a better standard can also disclose the difference between their performance today and the better standard, as well as their plans and schedule for meeting it.

Use continuous emissions monitors (CEMs) at significant sources, e.g. large and medium plants.

Each participant can identify its own significant sources, and if not monitoring today, make plans to do so. These participants should state their intentions.

Publish information on energy and fuel use, as well as total emissions of air pollutants annually and timely, if emissions are significant.

Each participant can determine whether it has significant emissions, and if so, determine how to quantify them. They should publish information on their energy and fuel use, as well as air pollution emissions, as part of their regular environmental reporting, or as a special environmental report on air quality.

Undertake to adopt energy-efficient measures in their operations.

Each participant can identify energy-efficient measures and formulate a plan to effect these measures in their business operations.

Identify and encourage business-relevant measures to be taken on days when air pollution is high.

Each participant can determine how it can contribute emissions reductions on high pollution day, such as by promoting public transportation for commuting workers, by working with their customers or vendors to reduce emissions elsewhere in the value chain, by substituting a different process, material or equipment at their own facilities, or by re-scheduling things that could be done at another time.

Share air quality expertise of business with others.

Participants that have expertise, particularly on any of the above items, can host visits or make other arrangements for their staff to share what is relevant to others.

In support of the implementation of this Charter, the Hong Kong - Guangdong Business Coalition on the Environment will help identify general measures for item 5 above, and facilitate or coordinate sharing of relevant expertise for item 6 above. The Coalition would also collect information that participants wish to make public under items 1, 2, 3 and 4 above, and share it in an organised way with the community. In helping private enterprises comply with this Charter, the Coalition recognises the specific needs of small and medium enterprises for support in technology and capacity building.