Environmental Protection Department
Contact Information
Website: http://www.epd.gov.hk General enquiries 24-28/F Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Telephone: 2835 1018
Fax: 2838 2155
Email: enquiry@epd.gov.hkRefer to the Civil Service Bureau website or the Interactive Employment Service website of the Labour Department
Employment enquiries
Email: epdadm@inet-epd.gov.hkBrief History
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) was created in 1986 to co-ordinate and carry out pollution prevention and control activities. Staff and resources from six government departments were deployed to the EPD. The EPD replaced the Environmental Protection Agency (which had been created in 1981 to replace the Environmental Protection Unit, created in 1977) as the main government body tackling pollution. The EPD provide support to the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, which has overall responsibility for environmental policy.
The EPD has adapted its internal organization over the years to changing priorities and increased staff numbers. Five divisions currently are responsible for seven programme areas - air, community relations, environmental assessment and planning, noise, water, waste and waste facilities - plus enforcement. Some of these programme areas complement each other, such as noise and planning, so they are grouped in one division.
The EPD is responsible for proposing policies; enforcing environmental legislation; monitoring environmental quality; providing collection, transfer, treatment and disposal facilities for many types of waste; advising on the environmental implications of town planning and new policies; handling pollution complaints and incidents; and raising awareness and support in the community for environmental initiatives.