Environment Focus at HK-France Conference New Technologies for Air, Waste and Water

Abstract

[evdate 2000-12-11] Press Invitation cum Press Release 7 December 2000

ENVIRONMENT FOCUS AT HK-FRANCE CONFERENCE New Technologies for Air, Waste and Water

A high-level environmental conference involving academic, government, legal and industry representatives from Hong Kong and France will be held in Hong Kong from 11 to 12 December 2000 to look into a wide array of global environmental issues, and to increase collaboration between the two sides.

The first conference of its kind in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-France Conference on the Environment is co-organized by the Agency for the International Promotion of French Technology and Trade, the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the Paris Institute of Technology. The first day of the conference will be held at HKUST, and the second day at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel.

The conference will be opened on Monday, 11 December by Mr Paul Tang Kwok Wai, Acting Secretary for Environment and Food of the HKSAR; Mr Beno褾 Battistelli, Deputy Undersecretary for Industry (Economic and International Affairs), French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry; Prof Dani鋩e Olivier, President of Paris Institute of Technology; and Prof Chia-Wei Woo, President of HKUST. Mr J廨獽e Pasquier, Consul-General of France in Hong Kong, will also attend the ceremony.

Senior Hong Kong Government officials participating include Mr John Collier, Director of Drainage Services, who will speak on waste water treatment and disposal in Hong Kong; Ms Yvonne Choi, Deputy Secretary for Commerce & Industry, who will look at the relationship between Hong Kong's industrial development and the environment; Mr Kim Salkeld, Deputy Secretary for Environment and Food, who sees Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta as two systems but one environment; Mr Mike Stokoe, Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, who will explain Hong Kong's approach to managing waste.

They will be joined by renowned researchers from universities in Hong Kong and France, who will update participants on the latest technologies in environmental protection. Industry and business leaders amongst them two French corporate giants, Vivendi and Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, will share their experience on waste water treatment, public-private partnership and recycling.

The forum will kick off with a discussion on the inter-dependent relationship between Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta Region in working towards a better environment for both Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. This will be followed by group discussions on the four aspects of pollution--waste water, air quality, drinking water and solid waste management--and a session on public-private partnership in urban services. The closing session focuses on opportunities for collaboration between Hong Kong and France.

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Members of the media are welcome to cover the conference. Details are as follows:

Event:Hong Kong-France Conference on the Environment New Technologies for Air, Waste and Water Date:Monday, 11 December 2000 Time:9 am-5:20 pm Venue: Lee Wing Tat Lecture Theater (morning session), Academic Concourse, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Leung Yat Sing Lecture Theater (afternoon session 1) Chow Tat Sin Lecture Theater (afternoon session 2)

Date:Tuesday, 12 December 2000 Time:9 am-6 pm Venue: Centenary Rooms I, II & III, G/F, Marco Polo HongKong Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui

Language: English

(Conference program is attached for reference.)

For media enquiries only: Jacky Tsang Tel: 2358-6306 email: patsang@ust.hk

Press Release at http www.ust.hk/~webopa/news/2000_News/news1207.html