EMSD Regulatory Services Report

It is also appropriate that EMSD leads by example in energy efficiency practices. I am pleased to report that as we design the new EMSD headquarters in Kowloon Bay, we shall ensure that energy efficiency measures are incorporated wherever possible.

Among the various energy efficiency measures to be integrated into the new headquarters is the installation of photovoltaic panels on the rooftop to use solar energy to power a refrigeration plant within the building. A water-cooled chiller with evaporative condenser will form the core part of the air-conditioning installation, which will reduce energy consumption by about 15 per cent compared to conventional air-cooled systems. High efficiency T5 lamps and luminaries with electronic ballasts will be used. A sun-light pipe will be installed to direct daylight to inner zones of the building and this will be integrated into an intelligent lighting control system.

In an effort to further enhance public awareness on energy efficiency, we started issuing a publication known as Energy WITS this year. Energy WITS, which is published twice a year, serves to provide a spectrum of information on the development and application of energy conservation initiatives in the territory as well as the latest energy saving technologies being developed in other parts of the world.

CONTINUING OUR SAFETY
COMMITMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY

As regards our mission to protect public safety in E&M and gas matters, I have always believed that persuasion is more effective than policing. In the year under review, our emphasis was on communicating with the trade to facilitate their understanding of compliance issues and new legislation in the pipeline. A series of talks, seminars and other activities were organised for workers and contractors, mostly in collaboration with trade associations and professional bodies. We also launched a newsletter to enhance direct dialogue with the electrical trade. The various divisions continued to be very active in their respective publicity programmes.

At the corporate level, we again organised the E&M Safety Campaign. Following the success of the first promotional programme in 2001, this year's campaign was scaled up to include 18 collaborating organisations. We used a mix of community outreach activities and mass media advertising to reach people of different ages and from different walks of life. This furthered one of our most important aims for the campaign, that is, making use of all available channels to ensure that the man in the street receives our safety messages and puts them into practice.

Our innovative programme with kindergartens met with an overwhelming response. Our kindergarten ambassadors visited more than 35,000 pupils in 250 schools in a nine-month programme, conveying safety messages through story telling, games and vivid demonstrations complete with children's favourite cartoon characters. This is an example of how creativity helps us reach out to people of different age groups.

Last but not least, I would like to thank our Deputy Director of Regulatory Services, Mr K W Ho and his team for their good work in the past year, and in particular for their relentless endeavour to make Hong Kong a safer and more energy efficient city.