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.

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.

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

See Data

 

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) Region^note1 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.

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.

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.

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).