Industrial activities which involve certain polluting industrial processes known as "specified processes":

The Air Pollution Control Ordinance provides licence control on certain polluting industrial processes known as "specified processes". The aim is to properly control and monitor the air pollution caused by the industries that have significant pollution potential. Through the terms and conditions of the licence, the owners of the premises used for the conduct of specified processes are required to use the best practicable means to prevent air pollution. The list of the 31 specified processes and their definitions are given in Annex I.

How to apply:

I. Application for a new licence

1. Application for a new licence shall be made in Form 1 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

2. Applicant should first consult a qualified engineer/Authorised Person for the preparation of the followings:

i. Application Form

1. For detailed information on completing Form 1, please refer to the "Guidance Notes for Completing Form 1 of the Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations"

ii. A block plan, drawn to a scale of 1:500 and prepared by an Authorised Person, showing the buildings and topography surrounding the premises where the specified process is to be conducted and the location of all emission points and their corresponding reference numbers.

iii. Schematic diagrams of process flow prepared by a qualified engineer, showing the flow of materials, including raw materials, materials in process of manufacture, manufactured materials, by-products and waste materials. All emission points and the process/equipment, including air pollution control equipment, associated with each emission point, must be identified and labelled with reference numbers in consistent with those given in the block plan.

3. Submit the application, together with the required documents and a prescribed fee to any of the Customer Service Counters of EPD.

Documents required:

1. A duly completed Form 1 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

2. Two sets of block plan prepared by an Authorised Person.

3. Two sets of schematic diagrams prepared by a qualified engineer.

4. Payment should be made by crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

II. Application for renewal of licence

1. Application for renewal of a licence shall be made in Form 2 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. For detailed information on completing Form 2, please refer to the "Guidance Notes for Completing Form 2 of the Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations".

2. Submit the application to any one of the Customer Service Counters of EPD. No fee is required for licence renewal.

Documents required:

1. A duly completed Form 2 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

III. Application for variation of a licence

1. Application for variation of a licence shall be made in Form 3 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

2. Applicant should first consult a qualified engineer/Authorised Person for the preparation of the followings:

i. Application Form 3.

For detailed information on completing Form 3, please refer to the "Guidance Notes For Completing Form 3 Of The Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations".

ii. Block plan and schematic diagram are needed where applicable. For example, a revised block plan is needed to illustrate the increase in emission points on the premises or/and a revised schematic diagram is needed to illustrate the change of the manufacturing process or the increase in emission points on the premises.

3. Submit the application, together with the required documents and a prescribed fee to any of the Customer Service Counters of EPD.

Documents required:

1. A duly completed Form 3 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

2. If a revised block plan is submitted, it should be prepared in 2 sets drawn to a scale of 1:500 by an Authorised Person.

3. If a revised schematic diagram is submitted, they should be prepared in 2 sets by a qualified engineer.

4. Payment should be made by crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

IV. Application for transfer of a licence

1. Application for transfer of a licence, which shall be jointly applied by the licence holder and the prospective transferee of the licence, shall be made in Form 4 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. For detailed information on completing Form 4, please refer to the "Guidance Notes for Completing Form 4 of the Air Pollution Control (Specified Processes) Regulations".

2. Submit the application and a prescribed fee to any of the Customer Service Counters of EPD.

Documents required:

1. A duly completed Form 4 prescribed under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.

2. Payment should be made by crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region".

V. Application for variation or cancellation of any term or condition imposed to an exemption

The same procedures outlined in section III. Application for variation of a licence applies. Please refer to the relevant section for details.

Annex 1: LIST OF SPECIFIED PROCESSES IN THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE (APCO)