Environment and Conservation Fund 30th anniversary "Let's Grow for Green" launching ceremony held (with photos)

The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) 30th anniversary "Let’s Grow for Green" launching ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon today (June 3). The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (centre); the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (second right); the Chairman of the ECF Committee, Dr Eric Cheng (second left); the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse (first left); and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui (first right).

The Environment and Conservation Fund 30th anniversary "Let's Grow for Green" launching ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon today (June 3). Photo shows the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, delivering his speech at the launching ceremony.

The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) 30th anniversary "Let's Grow for Green" launching ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon today (June 3). Photo shows the Chairman of the ECF Committee, Dr Eric Cheng, delivering his welcome remarks at the launching ceremony.

The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) 30th anniversary "Let's Grow for Green" launching ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon today (June 3). Photo shows the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan (third right), presenting appreciation certificates to the guests participating in the ECF 30th anniversary television programme at the launching ceremony.

The following is issued on behalf of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee:

The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) 30th anniversary "Let's Grow for Green" launching ceremony was held today (June 3) at the Hong Kong Productivity Council Building in Kowloon. As officiating guests, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Chairman of the ECF Committee, Dr Eric Cheng; and the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, witnessed the important milestone of the 30th anniversary of the ECF.

Officiating at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Government had been formulating, implementing and enhancing various environmental protection-related policy initiatives to reduce the city's total carbon emissions by half before 2035 from the 2005 level and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The ECF plays a constructive role in bringing together the wisdom and strength of all sectors of society to support the Government's implementation of environment protection-related policies and encourage the public to practise low-carbon living.

Mr Chan added that he looked forward to the ECF continuing to discharge its mission steadfastly, jointly with various stakeholders in society, to co-operate with the Government in such key tasks as strengthening public education and expanding recycling facilities in an all-round manner. The overall objective is to cultivate and practise green culture in the whole community and build Hong Kong into a sustainable and beautiful city.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Cheng expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Government for its generous injection of funds and its long-term commitment to protecting the environment and nature conservation in Hong Kong. He also anticipated that eligible organisations in Hong Kong would continue to make good use of the ECF to organise various environmental protection and nature conservation projects, with effective utilisation of innovative solutions and environmental protection technologies, to achieve goals such as "cherishing resources", "conserving environment", and "achieving carbon neutrality".

Other officiating guests of the launching ceremony included the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Miss Janice Tse, and the Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui. About 200 guests, including Legislative Council Members, district council members, social elites, and representatives of the recipient organisations, community organisations and green groups, attended the ceremony.

Both online and offline promotional activities with the theme of "Let's Grow for Green" will be kicked off in June this year to encourage all sectors of society and the general public to have a deeper understanding and make good use of the ECF through application for organising and participation in environmental protection and nature conservation projects and activities, with the objective of promoting emission reduction and carbon reduction in the community, thereby facilitating Hong Kong's attainment of carbon neutrality by 2050.

The ECF is a statutory trust fund established in June 1994 under the ECF Ordinance (Cap. 450). From its establishment to 2012, the ECF received six government injections totalling about $1.7 billion to support local eligible organisations in implementing various environmental protection and nature conservation projects and activities. Later in 2013, the Government injected an additional $5 billion into the ECF as its long-term commitment, which serves as seed money to generate an investment return for sustained support for environmental protection and nature conservation projects in the community.