At the launching ceremony, (from left) Senior School Development Officer (Home School Cooperation) of Education Bureau Mr. Yeung King-fai; Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering Department, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Wong Kit-po; Managing Director of HK Electric Mr. Tso Kai-sum; Under Secretary for the Environment, Dr. Kitty Poon Kit; Vice-chairman of Central & Western District Council, Mr. Chan Chit-kwai and Acting Chief Executive of The Conservancy Association, Mr. Rico Wong. Teenage idols, Wong Cho-lam and Vincy, are appointed as this year’s Smart Power Campaign Ambassadors. Students from Aplichau Kaifong Primary School have fun with Campaign Ambassadors, Wong Cho-lam and Vincy, in a game sharing tongue-twisting energy saving messages. Director of Engineering (Planning & Development), Mr. Wan Chi-tin, teams up with students from Emmanuel Primary School, Kowloon in the energy saving quiz. Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see, teams up with Vincy and students. A group photo of the officiating guests and performing students.

At the launching ceremony, (from left) Senior School Development Officer (Home School Cooperation) of Education Bureau Mr. Yeung King-fai; Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering Department, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Professor Wong Kit-po; Managing Director of HK Electric Mr. Tso Kai-sum; Under Secretary for the Environment, Dr. Kitty Poon Kit; Vice-chairman of Central & Western District Council, Mr. Chan Chit-kwai and Acting Chief Executive of The Conservancy Association, Mr. Rico Wong. Teenage idols, Wong Cho-lam and Vincy, are appointed as this year’s Smart Power Campaign Ambassadors. Students from Aplichau Kaifong Primary School have fun with Campaign Ambassadors, Wong Cho-lam and Vincy, in a game sharing tongue-twisting energy saving messages. Director of Engineering (Planning & Development), Mr. Wan Chi-tin, teams up with students from Emmanuel Primary School, Kowloon in the energy saving quiz. Director of Operations, Mr. Yuen Sui-see, teams up with Vincy and students. A group photo of the officiating guests and performing students.

HK Electric today launched a new series of community education activities encouraging the public to embrace energy saving as a shared value and to conserve energy in daily life.

This year's Smart Power Campaign aims at consolidating community efforts in smart energy usage with year-round activities heightening public awareness in energy conservation and galvanising people into action.

The campaign was launched at a ceremony officiated by Under Secretary for the Environment, Dr. Kitty Poon Kit, and HK Electric Managing Director, Mr. Tso Kai-sum, and attended by 160 guests and students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Poon urged young people to use electricity wisely and that they should foster green habits while they were young. She added that young people were green crusaders and could help shape the future of Hong Kong.

Mr. Tso hoped the campaign would motivate people to give extra thought to protecting the environment. "We want to foster a culture that instills energy consciousness and bring change to people's mindset and behaviour, such as reducing wastage, treasuring electricity and practising energy efficiency," he said.

To encourage participation, Mr. Tso said energy saving messages would be simple and easy to remember. "Chinese tradition emphasises seven daily necessities: wood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and tea. Energy saving mnemonics from these necessities will be used to remind people about seven essential things they should do to save energy," he added.

They include (1) save energy together; (2) never leave a computer on all the time; (3) foster energy saving habits when young; (4) waste no electricity; (5) maintain optimal temperature of air-conditioners; (6) launder only when there is a full-load; and (7) check energy efficiency labels before buying electrical appliances.

Mr. Tso went on to say that HK Electric integrates energy saving into its business operations as demonstrated by the recently commissioned Marsh Road Station which is the first building to receive four ‘Energy Efficient Building Certificates’ awarded by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

"In addition, Lamma Power Station (LPS) has received the 'Energywi$e Label' (Class of Excellence) from the Environmental Campaign Committee recognising our efforts which include saving 300,000 units of electricity by controlling usage of lighting systems and air-conditioners."

On other environmental initiatives, Mr. Tso added that the retrofitting work of one flue gas desulpurisation plant at LPS would be completed this year, followed by two others next year. "HK Electric is confident of meeting the Government’s emission targets in 2010," stressed Mr. Tso.

Kicking off this year's activities is an energy saving design competition inviting creative energy saving messages. The competition looks for the best tongue-twisting messages, print ads and mobile phone short videos.

In addition to cash prizes, the winning tongue-twister will be recorded by Campaign Ambassadors Wong Cho-lam and Vincy, who are teenage idols, as a ringing tone available for downloading from the HK Electric website. At the ceremony, participating students and the Campaign Ambassadors had fun sharing tongue-twisting messages.

The competition will be open till 30 April. Advertising expert, Ms. Connie Lo; senior part-time lecturer of Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Ms. Kan Shin-yu; Deputy Chief Executive of the Conservancy Association, Mr. Rico Wong; and lecturer of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi), Mr. Ho Wan-tat, will form the adjudication panel together with a representative from HK Electric.

Other activities include a roving exhibition at Taikoo MTR station from 23 to 25 March, Open Days at Lamma Power Station and Lamma Winds, school talks on energy saving, and a competition to share and reward outstanding energy saving practices.