The 2007/08 Session promises more action in the Hong Kong Waste Management scene than has happened in many years. The HKWMA will remain an integral part of the continuing development of the waste management industry, through representing the views of our members to Government and LegCo, providing informed and respected comment and by being recognized as the professional voice of reason in an ever more emotional and politically-charged climate.

Looking ahead, after years of stagnation, the waste management scene in Hong Kong finally appears to get moving again, driven by the overwhelming challenges of ever increasing waste loads, recycling of waste at source, new and difficult to manage wastes such as electric and electronic wastes, establishment of a feasible recycling industry in the Eco Park, innovative landfill gas utilization schemes, expansion of existing landfills, and effective implementation of the polluter-pays-principle. We are eagerly looking forward to the successful implementation of the Policy Framework for the Management of Municipal Solid Waste (2005-2014), which provides a policy blueprint for the further development of the Hong Kong waste management industry, including the construction of new integrated waste management facilities. This could make Hong Kong a paragon of sustainable waste management for the whole of China.

In terms of the HKWMA, we will be launching the second Certificate Course in Waste and Environmental Management, co-organized by City University of Hong Kong. Lecturers of the course are drawn from the HKWMA membership to reflect the best and most professional practice within the industry. Students will therefore greatly benefit from both technical excellence and real-life know-how. The course will run from December 2007 to February 2008. It is hoped that this course continues to be well recognized and valued by the industry at-large and that it will become a permanent offering.

Of course, throughout 2007/08 we will continue to hold seminars and technical visits, both in Hong Kong and overseas, that are of interest to our members. HKWMA will also co-sponsor the International Conference on Waste Engineering and Management, to be held in Hong Kong in May 2008. We hope that these will continue to be as well supported and attended as the traditional Annual Cocktail Reception!

Planning will start to send a HKWMA delegation to the ISWA World Congress 2008. This annual Congress of the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) is the focus of the international waste industry and will be held in November 2008 in Singapore, the first time in Asia since the ISWA World Congress 2002 in Istanbul, Turkey. In addition, initial preparations will be made to celebrate the 15th anniversary of HKWMA during the 2008/09 session.

On behalf of the Executive Committee I would like to thank you for your support in the past and hope that you will continue to value your membership of HKWMA, both in terms of its technical standing and also in terms of the networking opportunities offered by some 200 of Hong Kong’s top professionals in the waste management industry. Taken together with the exciting developments heralded by the Policy Framework it appears that we are, indeed, living in interesting times!

Albert Koenig
Chairman
2007/08 Session