The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) on Friday launched the five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme (CPPP) to facilitate Hong Kong-owned factories in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to improve the environment.

The CPPP is jointly implemented by the SAR Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Economic and Trade Commission (ETC) of Guangdong Province.

The CPPP was highlighted in the policy address last year, and the Legislative Council has approved a funding of HK$93.06 million for the program.

It is a platform for the SAR government to cooperate with the Guangdong Provincial Government in promoting environmental protection, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau said.

Deputy Director of Guangdong Provincial ETC Li Xiangming said the program plays an important role.

Industrial activities in the PRD region are very intense, producing a huge amount of pollutants and consuming lots of energy, he said.

The CPPP will grant successful applicants various amounts of money to carry out assessment, demonstration and verification projects.

During the initial stage, the factory will have to hire an environmental technology service provider (ETSP) to identify suitable environmentally-friendly measures. The applicant will be able to receive a funding of up to 50 percent of the project fee, capped at HK$15,000.

Next, the ETSP will have to procure and demonstrate the use of relevant cost-effective equipment. Again, the applicant will be entitled to 50 percent of the project fee with the maximum amount set at HK$160,000.

Finally, the HKPC will appoint an independent party to verify the cost-effectiveness of the equipment.

About 500 to 1000 applications will be approved over the five years, but Yau said there are about 50,000 to 60,000 Hong Kong factory owners in the PRD region.

Successful applicants are expected to share their findings and experiences with other factories.

They are also required to attend publicity and awareness promotional activities organized by the CPPP.

The HKPC had held a pilot program similar to the CPPP in 2006. Four factories took part in it.

Leo Paper Group was one of the participants. Its director Yeung Chak-man said they would apply for the CPPP as the HKPC pilot program has proven that environmental measures can help reduce costs.

Yau hoped the CPPP would bring a change of view to entrepreneurs who feel environmental measures only mean heavier costs on their part.

(HK Edition 04/19/2008 page1)