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Hong Kong Air Pollutant Emission Inventory
   
   

The emission inventory of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) covers five major air pollutants, namely: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), respirable suspended particulates (RSP or PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide (CO).

   
 

Emission inventory is a fundamental building block in developing air quality control strategy. It can be used for gauging changes in emission levels of air pollutants over the years, providing supports in identifying major pollution sources, conducting air quality modelling, etc.

   
   
   
  Emission Inventory for 2007
 

The diagram below shows the emission inventory for 2007 under different source categories including public electricity generation, road transport, navigation, civil aviation, other fuel combustion sources and non-combustion sources.

 

 

  Chart for 2007 Emission Inventory
 

 Legend for Emission Inventory Chart

   
   
   
  Topics of Interest 
   
  Historical Trend (1990-2007)
Changes in Emission Relative to Population, Energy End-use and Economic Growth
Progress of Emission Reduction
Update of Emission Inventory
  Useful References
   
   
   
   
Historical Trend (1990-2007)
   
 

 Major Factors Affecting Emission Trend

   
  Legend of Trends:
 

Legend for Emission Trends

 
   
   
   
 

Changes in Emission Relative to Population, Energy End-use and Economic Growth

   
  1. Changes in Emission Relative to Population
 

 

 

 Chart for 1990-2007 Emission per Capita

 

Legend for Emission per Capita Chart 

 

         See Data

   
   
2. Changes in Emission Relative to Energy End-uses
   
 

 Chart for 1990-2007 Emission per Energy End-use

 

 Legend for Emission per Energy End-use Chart

 

See Data

 

 

   
3. Changes in Emission Relative to Economic Growth
   
 

 Chart for 1990-2007 Emission per GDP

 

 Legend for Emission per GDP Chart

 

See Data

 

   
   
   
  Progress of Emission Reduction
   
 

The HKSAR Government reached a consensus with the Guangdong counterpart in April 2002 to reduce, on a best endeavour basis, the emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regionnote1 by 40%, 20%, 55% and 55% respectively by 2010, using 1997 as the base year.

   
 

Our progress in 2007 is shown in the following table. Except for SO2, Hong Kong has achieved steady progress towards achieving the 2010 emission reduction targets. The increase in SO2 emission was due to a rise in the use of coal in power generation in recent years.

 

 

Pollutant

1997
Emission
(Tonnes)

2007
Emission
(Tonnes)

Change in Emission 1997-2007

2010
Reduction Target (Reference to 1997)

SO2 66,200 68,100 +3% -40%
NOx 124,000 97,200 -21% -20%
RSP 11,500 5,640 -51% -55%
VOC 68,800 39,700 -42% -55%
   
 

To achieve the emission reduction targets in 2010, a series of additional control measures will be implemented in the coming years.

   
 

For instance, the wider use of natural gas, retrofitting flue gas desulphurization units, retrofitting low NOx burner and selective catalytic convertor will be implemented in power plants to reduce the SO2, NOx and RSP emissions.

   
 

Subsequent to the regulation introduced in 2007 to limit the VOC contents of selected consumer products, paints and printing inks in phases, as well as controlling the emissions from certain printing machines, we have been considering expanding the scope of control to cover adhesives and sealants, vehicle refinishing paints and marine vessel paints.

   
 

Euro V diesel was introduced to Hong Kong in December 2007 to further reduce SO2 emissions from vehicles. In addition, we launched various incentive schemes in 2007 to encourage owners to early phase-out their pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles or to switch to new environmental friendly petrol private cars.

   
 

In Oct 2008, we amended the Air Pollution control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations to mandate the use of ultra-low sulphur diesel in industrial and commercial sectors to further reduce SO2 emissions.

   
   
   
  Update of Emission Inventory
   
 

Following international practice, the emission inventory will be updated when methods are changed or refined or when better emission factors are available. In addition, the emission inventory over a whole time series will be recalculated in order to provide comparable and consistent emission trends.

   
 

To systemize the methodology in the compilation of emission inventory in the Pearl River Delta region, an “Air Emission Inventory Handbook for Pearl River Delta Region” has been compiled in 2006. Both the Guangdong Government and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government have agreed to adopt the handbook in compiling their emission inventories.

 

 

In compiling the emission inventory for 2007, we have recalculated the emissions for airport and container terminals from 1990 to 2006 with additional data collected recently.

 

 

   
   
  Useful References
   
  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
   
  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA - AP42)
   
European Environment Agency (EEA - Corinair Emission Inventory Guidebook)
   
Census and Statistics Department (C&SD - Hong Kong Energy Statistics Annual Report)
   
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD - Hong Kong Energy End-use Data)
   
   
   
   
  Note:
 

1 PRD Region refers to the whole territory of HKSAR and the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone (PRDEZ). PRDEZ includes Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Foshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou (Huicheng, Huiyang, Huidong, Boluo), and Zhaoqing (Duanzhou, Dinghu, Gaoyao, Sihui).

   

 

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Last Revision Date : 22 January 2009