Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited Lai Chi Wo today to inspect the work of the Environmental Protection Department’s Countryside Conservation Office.

The office was set up in 2018, and $1 billion was earmarked to support its work in the remote countryside.

Half of the funding is dedicated to minor improvement works, and the other half is reserved for supporting non-profit organisations to promote conservation and revitalisation projects.

The works near Lai Chi Wo include trail restoration, improvements to public toilets and the commissioning of a consultancy study on feasible options for improving sewage collection.

Mrs Lam was pleased to note that these projects have benefitted local villagers and the people who have returned to live there by providing them with basic living facilities.

The projects have also brought convenience to visitors, promoted local eco-tourism and created job opportunities.

Mrs Lam then visited one of the department’s contractors responsible for collecting and treating waste glass containers.

She noted that they collected about 21,000 tonnes of waste glass in 2019.

To prepare for the full implementation of the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Glass Beverage Containers, the department’s glass management contractors have undertaken free collection and treatment services for waste glass containers across the city since 2018.

Additionally, the department has commenced a two-year pilot scheme on the collection and recycling of waste plastics in Eastern District, Kwun Tong and Sha Tin since last January.

While visiting another contractor that provides plastic recycling services, Mrs Lam learnt about the pilot scheme’s progress.

She noted that since the scheme began in Eastern District and Kwun Tong in January last year and July, about 156 and 144 housing estates and buildings in the two districts have registered for the scheme’s service as of January.

On the last stop of her visit, Mrs Lam went to the Tuen Mun Community Green Station, where she was briefed on the pilot programme on the smart recycling system.

Under the programme, the Eastern, Tai Kok Tsui and Tuen Mun Community Green Stations have installed a round-the-clock smart recycling system with an overflow alert.

The system automatically measures and records the weight of recyclables collected and can help provide education, promotion and services to the community and individuals.

Mrs Lam noted that the Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to promote waste reduction at source and clean recycling for various materials.

“I believe that the series of measures implemented in recent years will take root to encourage clean recycling in the community and nurture green living habits of the public.”

The measures can also help realise the vision set out in the Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035 and support the move towards carbon neutrality in Hong Kong before 2050, she added.