The opening ceremony for the expo was officiated by Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR. Mr Wong said: "The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will bring the cities in the region together to strengthen the economic cooperation as well as develop a quality living circle. On green environment the Greater Bay Area development will open up new horizons. It not only helps cities in the region work together to clean up air and water as well as protect the flora and fauna, it also opens up new opportunities for innovations and collaborative efforts to pursue low-carbon development as well as circular economy for the Greater Bay Area." Mr Wong noted that waste management has critical climate implications, and the government has adopted different policies and action plans with a view to achieving both waste- and carbon-reduction targets, including the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, launched in August.

HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong said: "In recent years, as more environmental issues emerge around the world, we have seen the green industry becoming an increasingly important sector in the global economy. From waste reduction and energy saving to green transportation, the market has launched many products and technologies that incorporate green concepts. As an important event for the green industry in Asia, the expo gathers a wide range of innovative products and technologies under the theme of 'Waste Less, Save More for a Low-Carbon Future' to provide the latest solutions for various businesses and drive the green industry's development in the region."

The latest Policy Address given by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR featured various environmental policies, including a provision of HK$300-400 million to step up waste reduction, promote recovery and recycling, and develop renewable energies. Ms Fong said these new measures will help drive the development of the local green industry, while the expo provides a comprehensive platform for local and international buyers to search for suitable products and technologies that match the market's needs.

The expo this year features 14 international group pavilions as well as the launch of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Zone to present green opportunities in various Greater Bay Area cities. The event also features nine thematic zones to present a wide variety of green products and technologies, including Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency, Green Transportation, Waste Management and Recycling, and the Startup Zone. Some 97 buying missions, comprising more than 2,300 corporate representatives from 25 countries and regions, have been organised to visit the expo.

Startup Zone Showcases Innovative Green TechnologiesTwenty Hong Kong start-up companies showcase the latest green technologies at the Startup Zone. They include:

- Akmon Limited (Booth: 3-G28) highlights a high-quality fashionable air pollution mask, designed in France and engineered in Germany. The mask can block germs, gases, dust, odours and the smallest harmful airborne viruses carried by PM2.5.

- GRN Consultant (Hong Kong) Limited (Booth: 3-F27) has developed a patented atomised ozone water capable of deodorising, disinfecting the air and breaking down poisonous gases. It also has agricultural uses, helping to reduce insecticide usage.

- Solartility (Booth: 3-E28), responding to the government's Feed-in Tariff Policy, has designed a solar system for residential and commercial use. By connecting the system to the grid, users can sell the green power generated by the system to the two major power companies.

Global Green Products and Technologies Match Market NeedsEco Expo Asia is showcasing various projects, technologies and green concepts from environmental enterprises worldwide, including the following:

Air Quality- Developed by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Booth: 6-B24), the Monitoring System for Urban Tree Management can perform large-scale monitoring of tree stability using smart sensor technology and geological data to make sure trees are appropriately cared for and able to improve the city's air quality.- Anhui Yuanchen Environmental Protection Polytron Technologies (Booth: 6-A25) is an integrated service provider for atmospheric pollution regulation, providing solutions to treat air pollutants.

Eco-friendly Products- Taiwan company Zen Zhou Social Enterprise (Booth: 3-H28) designs plastic-free products that are both stylish and practical, such as a beeswax food wrap that replaces plastic wrap and bags, and a palm plate that replaces plastic plates.- Charankattu Coir - India (Booth: 3-H28) produces and exports coir fibre cloths and sutured blankets that can control soil erosion, while the coir helps to retain soil moisture in gardens and seed ranches.

Green Transportation- Nissan's latest e-NV200 100% electric MPV (Booth: 3-E30) is equipped with a 40kWh lithium battery which takes only 40 minutes to charge up to 80%.- Hyundai (Booth: 3-C30) showcases its second-generation commercialised FCEV NEXO, the first hydrogen-powered SUV shown in Hong Kong with an estimated driving range of more than 600 kilometers and a refueling time of five minutes.

Waste Management and Recycling- Ergo Global (Booth: 3-B21) provides a new vertical waste transfer system that uses fewer containers, compactors and transportation trucks, making it a more efficient solid-waste transfer solution.- Canada company Pyrowave (Booth: 6-B12) highlights its patented catalytic microwave depolymerisation (CMD) process that unzips plastics back into their initial constituents, depolymerising directly onsite at recycling facilities and at producers of plastic waste.

Eco Excellence- Developed by Hong Kong company Lap Energy HK Ltd (Booth: 3-E02), the photovoltaic power system can effectively convert solar energy into electricity power and convert DC to AC power through an inverter. The system can be installed on rooftops or in spare open space for self-use or sold to the power company under the Feed-in Tariff Policy.

Green Mart- NovaTech Company Limited (Booth: 3-SG21) showcases "Smart CARA", a high-performance food waste decomposer. Food waste can be dehydrated to reduce the volume to 1/10 of its original. The patented activated carbon filter device completely absorbs the smell of the food waste decomposition.

Eco Asia Conference Explores Green IssuesThe Eco Asia Conference (25-27 Oct) features nearly 40 government officials and experts from eight countries and regions to share insights on a range of topics that include the Chinese mainland's latest green policies, waste management and recycling, smart water management solutions, green building, as well as renewable energies and their usage. Speakers include Mr Wong; Wang Shancheng, Deputy Director-General, Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection, National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China; and Xie Pengfei, China Chief Representative, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

The Greater Bay Area Forum on 26 Oct will investigate the latest green business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and the innovative technologies being deployed in regional environmental initiatives. The Hong Kong Construction Association and Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics will organise the "Smart Construction for Quiet Symposium", where internationally renowned experts from the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore will discuss the latest policy developments and innovative quiet-construction methods. The Green Transportation Forum also returns to explore trends in electric vehicles and green public transport.

Public Day Promotes Green Living, New Eco Careers ForumEco Expo Asia will open its doors to the public on the last day of the event (28 Oct) to promote green living. At the "Dialogue with the Secretary for the Environment" session, Mr Wong will meet with primary and secondary school students to talk about waste reduction measures and promote the importance of environmental protection. The Start Small, Start Now documentary, which highlights Hong Kong's plastic-waste problem, will also premiere on Public Day. Launching this year, the Eco Careers Forum will feature representatives from the Hong Kong Green Building Council, the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong EV Power Limited and CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories to provide tips for visitors looking to enter the green industry as well as conducting on-site recruiting.

Visitors can shop for innovative environmentally friendly and health products at the Green Mart, and join sustainable workshops to make frosted glass jar lamps. At the Public Day Forum, Sham Fu-cheung, Chief Experimental Officer, Hong Kong Observatory, and Lin Tang-tai, Senior Engineer at the Water Supplies Department, will discuss how Hong Kong may be affected by a warming world and offer smart water tips. Visitors can enjoy a test drive or test ride of the electric vehicles at the expo. For registration, please visit the expo's website (https://bit.ly/2RsVGJK^[1]) or enrol on-site.

Synergy for More Business OpportunitiesHeld concurrently with Eco Expo Asia, the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo (26-29 Oct) gathers 420 exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Korea, Taiwan and Slovakia to showcase a variety of outdoor and industrial lighting products and systems for construction sites, factories, advertisements, stadiums and studios. The expo also features a new Horticultural Lighting zone to showcase a range of grow lights. Meanwhile, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) runs from 27-30 Oct at the HKCEC. Running the fairs in parallel creates synergies by gathering more global buyers in Hong Kong and offering more opportunities for industry players.

Free shuttle bus services will be offered between the venue and other locations in the city throughout the fair period. Please refer to the following page for details: https://bit.ly/2xYcvmk^[2]

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/2AqnJmk^[3]

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. Please visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus^[4] or follow us on Google+, [email protected]^[5], LinkedIn.

Contact:

Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: [email protected]

Copyright © 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.

References

1. ^{^} https://bit.ly/2RsVGJK (bit.ly)
2. ^{^} https://bit.ly/2xYcvmk (bit.ly)
3. ^{^} https://bit.ly/2AqnJmk (bit.ly)
4. ^{^} www.hktdc.com/aboutus (www.hktdc.com)
5. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
6. ^{^} [email protected] (www.acnnewswire.com)
7. ^{^} HKTDC (www.hktdc.com)
8. ^{^} Trade Shows (www.acnnewswire.com)
9. ^{^} Water (www.acnnewswire.com)
10. ^{^} Environment (www.acnnewswire.com)