Top performance: Chief Executive Donald Tsang (second right) presents 2009 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence to organisations which have demonstrated outstanding environmental performance.

The 2010 Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) have opened for applications, encouraging businesses and organisations to adopt green management.

Under the HKAEE, sectoral awards are granted to organisations which have demonstrated all-round and outstanding environmental performance through an annual competition in nine sectors.

Last year saw 403 entries, with 34 gold, silver, bronze and SME awards, and 67 certificates of merit awarded. They were presented at a ceremony today.

The new Carbon "Less" Certificates Scheme recognises buildings and organisations which have cut carbon emissions. More than 60 applications were filed with some reporting emission cuts of more than 10%.

Organisations can also apply for Environmental Labels if they have attained a prescribed number of goals in waste reduction, energy saving, indoor air quality and product life-cycle. Each of the labels is divided into either a class of 'good' or 'excellent', depending on how many goals the applicant has achieved.