Posted in: Press Releases

April 27th, 2009

The Secretary for the Environment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Mr Edward Yau, today (April 27) discussed and exchanged views with his Canadian counterparts on various environment issues that are of mutual interest during the first leg of his visit in North America.

During his one-day visit in Toronto, Mr Yau called on the Senior Adviser to Mayor of Toronto on Climate Change, Ms Mary McDonald, and met with the City’s officials to learn more about Toronto’s waste and recycling policy. Mr Yau also called on Ontario Minister of the Environment, John Gerresten. Both discussed bilateral issues on the subject.

At a luncheon organized by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) and Canada China Environmental Forum, Mr Yau gave a speech on “Hong Kong’s Game Plan in Green Transformation and Opportunities for Canadian Business”. He discussed Hong Kong’s initiatives and plans on tackling different environmental issues, its green opportunities for Canadian technologies, and the expanding Hong Kong-Guangdong collaboration under the vision of “Green Pearl River Delta Quality Living Area”. He also encouraged environment protection companies in Canada to partner with their counterparts in Hong Kong to open up their China market.

“We are going to be greener, and the goal for our region is to be the greenest,” he said. “The massive business opportunities include China’s CAD$34 billion economic revitalization package devoted to energy efficiency, emission reduction, and ecological conservation.” About 150 business leaders attended the luncheon.

During his visit to ZENN (Zero Emission No Noise), a Toronto-based company that manufactures two-seat battery electric vehicle designed to qualify as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, Secretary Yau tried out the company’s new no-gasoline vehicle and was briefed on ZENN’s “game-changing” battery technology.

Mr Yau also took the opportunity to visit the site of the Bay Adelaide Centre, which has adopted the state-of-the-art innovation and design technologies into its sophisticated architecture to create an environment that is both functional and architecturally captivating. He was briefed on how the Centre commits itself to conservation from conception to construction.

Mr Yau will depart Toronto for Ottawa tonight. He will meet with the Canadian Green Building Council’s president, Thomas Mueller, and speak at a roundtable hosted by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association tomorrow, before setting off for Washington D.C. early Wednesday.

Please click here to view his full presentation.

While visiting ZENN (Zero Emission No Noise) today (Monday), Hong Kong's Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau tries out the company's new no-gasoline vehicle. He was also briefed on ZENN's "game-changing" battery technology.