Hong Kong is a major financial, trading and transport hub in East Asia.

Many of the shipments to and from

southern China pass through Hong Kong’s port, making it one of the world’s busiest. Although the port
brings economic benefit to Hong Kong, it has also added environmental pressure through water pollution
and emissions from cargo-carrying road traffic. The city has a GDP per capita of nearly US$30,000, which
places it in the high-income group in the Asian Green City Index. As one of two special administrative
regions of China, along with Macau, Hong Kong retains a high degree of autonomy from the Chinese
central government. Hong Kong ranks above average overall in the Index. The city’s best performance is
in the land use and buildings category, where it ranks well above average, boosted by one of the largest
amounts of green spaces in the Index. In most other categories, Hong Kong ranks above average. As well
as having well-developed transport and sanitation infrastructures in place, Hong Kong benefits from
having a wide range of proactive policies to improve and protect its environment. The city ranks average
in the water category, mainly due to a high rate of consumption and a relatively high level of water
leakages.

Energy and CO2: Hong Kong ranks above average in the energy and CO2 category, performing particularly
well for its clean energy policies and climate change action plan. Hong Kong is one of only six cities covered
in the Index that regularly monitors greenhouse gas emissions and publishes the results. The city also
consumes a relatively small amount of energy per US$ of GDP, at an estimated 1.5 mega joules, well below
the Index average of 6 mega joules.

Land use and buildings: Hong Kong ranks well above average in land use and buildings. The city’s score is
boosted by having the third largest amount of green space in the Index, at 105 square meters per person,
well above the Index average of 39 square meters. The city’s success in green spaces is partly due to its
natural geography — some mountainous areas are not easily developed — but also because of proactive
policies towards conservation. About 48,000 hectares of land are also under statutory protection in Hong
Kong, with most of it designated as country parks and marine parks. Besides the parks, 6,600 hectares
designated for conservation must follow strict planning and development controls. Hong Kong also has
strong policies on eco-buildings and land-use.

Green Initiative : Since 1998 the government has maintained building energy codes, which stipulate
minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of lighting, air-conditioning, lifts and escalators.
Compliance with the codes was initially voluntary but the government has a proposal in the legislature to
make it mandatory.

Transport: Hong Kong ranks above average in transport. The city scores well for having a comparatively
well-developed superior public transport network (defined in the Index as transport that moves large
numbers of passengers quickly in dedicated lanes, such as metro, bus rapid transit, or trams). Measuring
0.24 km per square kilometer, it stretches farther than the Index average of 0.17 kilometers. Hong Kong
also does well on transport policy. The city has an integrated pricing system for its mass transit system,
and has taken steps to reduce emissions from mass transport. The city’s transport performance further
benefits from policies to reduce traffic congestion, with measures such as pedestrian areas, congestion
charges, “no-car days”, and park and ride systems. Hong Kong’s traffic management system is also among
the most sophisticated in the Index
Green initiatives: Hong Kong has plans to substantially expand its metro system. the city has installed Area
Traffic Control systems to ensure smooth traffic flow and optimum use of the road network in the Tuen
Mun and Yuen Long districts. The project involves the real-time coordination and adjustment of traffic
control signals at 249 junctions.

Waste: Hong Kong ranks above average in waste. Although Hong Kong produces 434 kg of waste per
capita per year, which is more than the Index average of 375 kg, the city collects and adequately disposes
of all of the waste it generates, primarily through the city’s three existing landfills. Hong Kong scores well
for already having strong polices in place for waste, which include the encouragement of better waste
management by citizens through such measures as litter bans and making it illegal to dump waste. Waste
reuse and recycling services are also very well developed in Hong Kong.

Green initiatives: The government relies on the “polluter pays” principle for its waste reduction strategy.
The most conspicuous policy so far has been a US$0.06 levy on plastic shopping bags started in July 2009.
Authorities estimate that some eight billion plastic bags end up in landfills annually. On the first
anniversary of the levy, the government reported that retailers are distributing 90% fewer bags than
before the policy was adopted.

Water: Hong Kong is average in the water category, mainly due to comparatively high water consumption.
It consumes 371 liters of water per capita per day, compared to the 22-city average of 298 liters. The city
regularly monitors the quality of surface water, maintains targets for key pollutants in drinking water, and
is strong at enforcing water pollution standards on local industry.

Green Initiatives: The Hong Kong government and the government of the mainland Chinese province,
Guangdong, have been collaborating on a water quality initiative in the Pearl River Delta. The two
governments joined forces in 2000 to produce an innovative computer model that accurately simulates
the flow of pollution in the river network and coastal waters, which allows for regional cooperation in
monitoring water quality in the delta.

Sanitation: Hong Kong ranks above average in sanitation. The city scores well on policy, regularly
monitoring wastewater treatment facilities and running public awareness programmes. Hong Kong has
also made firm progress in preventing toxic effluents from flowing into its famous Victoria Harbor. Today,
about 75% of sewage discharged into Victoria Harbor is chemically treated and disinfected, according to
the Hong Kong government.

Green initiatives: The Harbor Area Treatment Scheme to clean up Victoria Harbor is ongoing. By 2014
more sewage from further districts within the city will be diverted to a sewage treatment plant located
on a promontory at the north-western corner of the harbor that opened in 2001.
Air quality: Hong Kong ranks above average in air quality. The city regularly monitors air quality in various
locations around the city, not just in industrial areas, and promotes awareness among citizens about the
dangers of air pollution. Hong Kong also scores well for measuring a wide range of air pollutants, including
suspended fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide.

Green initiatives: The government has taken steps to reduce vehicle emissions, which are the city’s second
biggest source of air pollution behind power generation. Environmental authorities are also promoting
biodiesel by exempting duty on the fuel for motor vehicles.

Environmental governance: Hong Kong is above average for environmental governance. The city regularly
monitors its environmental performance and publishes information on progress, and enjoys strong
powers to implement its own environmental legislation. Hong Kong also does well at involving citizens,
nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders in decisions on projects of major environmental
impact.