Hong Kong Green Manufacturing Alliance

“To bring about the transformation of industries, creating a Green regime of products and processes; and to enhance the competitive edge of industries.”

Background

Everywhere, in every major market, there is a march towards an environment regime requiring separate collection, treatment and disposal of household and consumer waste.

In 2003, the European Union began to introduce directives on the treatment of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), as well as the restriction of use of certain hazardous materials (RoHS).  The impact is felt on a spectrum of products: electrical toys, watches, appliances, consumer electronics, cellular phones, telecommunication products, personal health equipment, and so on.  

To cope with the WEEE/RoHS and increasingly stringent environmental challenges, Hong Kong industry operators have taken the initiative to prepare themselves for compliance and adopting an integrated “green manufacturing” strategy.  

Vision

Hong Kong Green Manufacturing Alliance (The Alliance) was officially established in December 2004. Currently, its founding members comprise seven renowned trade and industry associations. It is also supported by a number of statutory bodies and research institutions.

The Alliance endeavours to encourage industrial innovation which will introduce green compliant standards at the heart of the manufacturing processes and products. It intends to stimulate a new culture in green practices that run through the chain of industrial processes, processes that go beyond the demands of global legislations and markets.

Through the implementation of its objectives, it intends to enhance the competitive edge of its group members and other manufacturers.

Objectives

n         To seek compliance by industry members and others to all EU or other national legislations in regards to collection and treatment of end-of-life (EOL) electrical and electronic products, equipment, or parts thereof, and to seek industry compliance to prohibition of certain hazardous substances.

n         To promote awareness and to assist industry members and others on the green or other ecological compliant standards to both products and processes, and to offer acceptable green model standards to the same.

n         To monitor and track green legislations worldwide and to promote green products and processes adopted by Hong Kong and related companies in the Mainland and worldwide.

Organisation

The Alliance is run by a committee made up of prominent industry persons selected from among the founding trade and industry associations. In addition, there is an advisory group, and the HKSAR agency is an observer.

Founding Members

-    Federation of Hong Kong Industries

-    The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd

-    Hong Kong Electrical Appliances Manufacturers Association

-    Hong Kong Electronics Industries Association

-    Hong Kong Toys Council

-    Hong Kong Watch and Clock Council

-    Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association

[Arranged in alphabetical order]

Advisory Group

-    City University of Hong Kong

-    Hong Kong Polytechnic University

-    Hong Kong Productivity Council

-    Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Observer

-   Innovation and Technology Commission, HKSAR Government

Chairman

- Dr. K B Chan, Chairman, Steering Committee

Secretariat

- Federation of Hong Kong Industries

Honorary Legal Advisor

-  Mr. Robin Bridge & Mr. John Liu

Agenda for Action

To meet its objectives and fulfill its vision, the Alliance will carry out the followings:

n          Awareness seminars, training workshops and publicity campaigns

n          Green Mark Scheme: Helping companies to meet safe environment processes

n          Green web: resources centre & an information exchange platform

n          Green model solutions: Developing product/technology green compliant systems

Progress and Achievements

The Alliance has launched a wide range of activities based on the agenda for action, which include:

n       Successfully obtained the Government’s financial support on a project “Achieving RoHS and WEEE Compliance through Green Manufacturing”

n       Organized and supported nine awareness seminars on WEEE/RoHS in the first half year of 2005, across a broad spectrum of local industry sectors.

n       Organized a round-table conference with consulates to communicate on the latest developments and requirements of WEEE/RoHS of different EU Member States, as well as the initiatives and responses of the Hong Kong’s manufacturing industries.

n       Arranged meetings with overseas WEEE/RoHS experts for sharing of experience on green manufacturing.

n       A “Green Corner” has been established by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council at its internet website with a hit rate of 4.8 million

n       Promoting green manufacturing in exhibitions and trade fairs, both local and international.

n       Coordinating R&D programmes on green materials and green manufacturing technologies with local universities and research institutes.

n       Developing the Green Mark certification scheme with the Hong Kong Q-Mark Council.

Communication Platform

The Alliance provides a platform where Hong Kong’s manufacturers and overseas organisations can interact to achieve the common goal of green manufacturing.  Through the Alliance, overseas organisations can:

n           Disseminate information related to WEEE/ ROHS to Hong Kong’s industry operators.

n           Understand the initiatives taken by Hong Kong’s industry operators for WEEE/RoHS compliance.

To Contact Us

The GMA Secretariat

Federation of Hong Kong Industries

4/F., Hankow Centre, 5-15 Hankow Road

Tsimshatsui, Kowloon

Hong Kong.

Contact Person: Mr Basil Wai

Telephone:         (852) 2732 3106

Fax:                  (852) 2721 3494

E-mail:              hkgma@fhki.org.hk

Websites:         www.gma.org.hk (The Alliance)

                        www.industryhk.org (FHKI)