2024 Environmental Protection Report

Introduction

This is the 2024 Environmental Protection Report of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS). The report covers our environmental protection policy, the specific environmental protection initiatives carried out in 2024 and their effectiveness. AMS is committed to promoting environmental protection in various aspects in an environmentally responsible manner, conserving resources and energy by adopting the most effective measures, and managing the disposal of clinical waste properly so as to reduce the impacts on the environment.

In 2024, AMS’s environmental protection efforts focused on energy conservation and decarbonisation, reduction of paper consumption, use of cleaner fuel and collection of recyclable office products. This year, we will procure medical supplies that meet environmental requirements, enhance vehicle maintenance and management, and continue to raise the environmental awareness and foster a sense of environmental responsibility of our staff and volunteer members, with a view to further fulfilling our commitments to sustainable development and improving environmental quality.

Environmental Protection Policy

AMS is responsible for augmenting the regular medical and health services of the HKSAR in the most efficient and effective manner through a well-trained, professional and committed volunteer force, and for providing quality healthcare services, so as to safeguard the health and well-being of the public. In discharging these responsibilities, we are committed to enhancing our performance in environmental protection and have set the following objectives:-

1. a)To comply with the requirements of all applicable environmental protection ordinances and regulations;
2. b)To raise the awareness of staff and members to ensure that they are fully aware of their environmental protection responsibilities, understand the direct and indirect environmental impacts that may arise from their activities, and appreciate the importance of complying with environmental protection policies;
3. c)To review our management practices regularly to ensure they function effectively and efficiently in achieving our environmental protection objectives;
4. d)To promote effective energy‑saving and resource management measures, so as to reduce the consumption of energy and materials, and the generation of waste; and
5. e)To provide training on integrated environmental protection management for personnel whose daily work has significant environmental impacts, thereby enhancing their environmental protection knowledge and practical capability.

AMS Key Interactions with the Environment and Response Measures

The daily duties of AMS are to provide quality first aid and supplementary emergency healthcare services for the people of Hong Kong. We recognise the potential environmental impacts arising from our activities and operations, and therefore we have been striving to improve our environmental protection measures and performance. Our major activities and operations that are relevant to the environment include:

1. a)First aid coverage;
2. b)Ambulance and vehicle fleet maintenance;
3. c)Office administrative work; and
4. d)Procurement of products and services.

AMS has identified the potential environmental impacts arising from each of the above areas and has established corresponding control measures to mitigate the adverse impacts. To strengthen environmental management, we have defined six key areas of environmental protection:

1. i)Legal compliance;
2. ii)General resource consumption and waste management;
3. iii)Clinical waste management;
4. iv)Energy conservation;
5. v)Fleet management; and
6. vi)Enhancement of environmental protection knowledge and awareness.

We have designated specific personnel to be responsible for monitoring the implementation of environmental protection measures and to ensure that all operations are conducted in accordance with the environmental management principles.

Table A.
Activities, Potential Environmental Impacts and Designated Responsible Persons

Our Green Initiatives and Performance in 2024

AMS continued to follow the green measures adopted in 2023 and further enhanced their effectiveness. In addition to reducing the consumption of batteries, ball pens and toner cartridges and disposing of them properly, we also promoted the efficient use of paper by encouraging staff and volunteer members to:

• Use the reverse side of scrap paper for writing;
• Prioritise the use of recycled paper;
• Use double-sided photocopying;
• Reuse file jackets and envelopes (including transit envelopes);
• Promote the use of electronic communication (e.g. issuing orders and circulars by email);
• Circulate documents within the department to reduce reprinting.

Material Consumption

Paper and Other Office Supplies

• Most training course handouts have been uploaded to the intranet to reduce paper consumption;
• Paper consumption in 2024 was 1,215 reams;
• Envelope consumption was 30,800;
• All internal correspondence was issued electronically;
• Green and recyclable batteries were used for portable and cordless phones.

Green Procurement

• 99% of the paper used was recycled paper.
• Energy-saving office supplies such as photocopiers and plain paper fax machines were used.

Energy Conservation

• Non‑essential lighting in the corridors of the headquarters building was switched off during daytime;
• Staff were reminded to switch off air‑conditioners and lighting when leaving the office or during lunch hours;
• Indoor temperature was maintained at an appropriate level to avoid energy wastage;
• Training schedules were optimised and energy‑efficient equipment was used;
• Staff were encouraged to use staircases instead of lifts for inter‑floor access.

The total amount of electricity consumed in 2024 was 699,457 kWh.

Carbon Emission Audits

To further reduce carbon emissions, AMS conducted regular carbon emission audits to identify major sources of emissions and continuously improve our emission reduction strategies. In 2024, the total greenhouse gas emissions from our headquarters building amounted to 321.67 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Waste Manage

We encouraged staff to reduce and sort waste, and continued to participate in waste paper recycling programme. In 2024, we collected 2,344 kg of waste paper for recycling.

Clinical Waste Management

Clinical waste mainly includes contaminated swabs, dressings and similar substances. We segregated clinical waste from municipal waste for special collection, handling, transportation and disposal in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Management of Clinical Waste and ensure full compliance with safety and environmental requirements.

Fleet Management

• Regular vehicle maintenance was carried out to ensure that vehicles could meet the emission standards;
• Ventilation fans were installed in the compartments of all AMS non-emergency ambulances;
• Drivers were required to switch off the idling engines while waiting to pick up or drop off patients, in accordance with the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311).

Summary of consumption

Year	Electricity (kWh)	Paper (reams)	Envelope (Nos.)
2023	685,576	1,305	32,100
2024	699,457	1,215	30,800

Environmental Information and Awareness

AMS continued to raise the environmental awareness of staff and members, and emphasised the importance of energy saving and waste reduction through circulars, briefings and internal publicity. Environmental information and promotional materials were displayed on all AMS notice boards at the headquarters to remind staff and members to practise low‑carbon living and to maintain a good working and community environment.

Objectives and Targets for the year 2025

We will continue to implement the green measures adopted in the previous year and enhance their effectiveness. We will also encourage staff and members to further participate in environmental protection activities. Our future directions include:-

• Rolling out electronic document systems to gradually replace paper‑based communication;
• Replacing all traditional fluorescent tubes in the headquarters offices and corridors with energy-saving tubes;
• Further minimising the consumption of paper and electricity;
• Installing a solar power generation system on the rooftop of the headquarters building to supply the building with renewable energy, thereby reducing overall carbon emissions;
• Following the implementation of the Electronic Record Keeping System (ERKS), making an application to the Government Records Service at an appropriate time for the discontinuation of the parallel run of the ERKS and the print-and-file practice, so that all electronic messages will only need to be kept in the ERKS without printing for filing, thereby effectively reducing paper consumption and enhancing the efficiency of records management.

Feedback and Enquiries

AMS welcomes any suggestions or comments on our environmental protection commitments and policies. You may contact us through the following channels:

• By post: Departmental Green Manager, Auxiliary Medical Service Headquarters, 81 Princess Margaret Road, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
• By email: sotocs@ams.gov.hk
• By fax: 2715 0245
• By telephone: 2417 6401 / 2886 6618

Click to view "2023 Environmental Protection Report"