Green business: Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau speaks at the Green Technologies, Challenges & Opportunities seminar in Shanghai.

The Greater Pearl River Delta region provides a market with huge potential for the energy, green transport and related consultancy industries, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau says.

Speaking at the Green Technologies, Challenges & Opportunities seminar in Shanghai, which is the first of a six-month series of events and activities to be staged by Hong Kong during the Shanghai Expo period, he said there are more than 50 million residents in the delta region.

With the restructuring of the economy, there was an urgent need to further protect the environment and combat climate change. These, coupled with higher public expectations for a better lifestyle and quality of life, will make the development of a green economy and green technology a global trend and provide business opportunities with the greatest potential, he added.

Joint efforts

"However, the Government cannot promote a green economy on its own. We need to join with the business sector as their initiatives and participation are important driving forces in promoting a green economy."

Mr Yau also shared details of Hong Kong's environmental policy that promotes the development and implementation of green technologies for industries in the region.

"To encourage enterprises to adopt clean production procedures and to reduce pollution in production processes, we have put in place a five-year Cleaner Production Partnership Programme since April 2008. The scheme aims at encouraging and assisting Hong Kong-owned enterprises in the Pearl River Delta region to adopt clean production techniques and operation modules," he said.

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Following the half-day seminar, Mr Yau led seminar guests on a visit to the Hong Kong Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai, where they toured the Environment Bureau's "Green Living in Hong Kong" exhibition.