Officers of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) make regular inspections of potential air polluting plants and respond to air pollution complaints raised by the public. Enforcement is empowered by the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO) and its subsidiary regulations. When appropriate, the EPD gives advice or issues a legal notice to the premises to abate the air pollution. If the advice or legal notice is ignored, legal action is then taken against the offender. In 2011, the EPD gave advice on 2 986 occasions, served 243 notices and undertook 104 prosecutions under the APCO and 4 prosecutions under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (OLPO) (see chart below).
Air Pollution Enforcement Statistics in 2011
| Chimney Applications Processed | 455 |
| Specified Process Licences (Newly Issued) | 11 |
| Notices Served | 243 |
| Prosecutions (APCO & OLPO) | 108 |
| Technical Advice Given | 2 986 |
Fines Imposed for Air Pollution Convictions in 2011 (HK$)
| Total | Highest | Lowest | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Asbestos Requirement | 173 100 | 12 000 | 500 | 3 606 |
| Breach of Construction Dust Regulation | 56 000 | 12 000 | 2 500 | 6 222 |
| Breach of Dry-Clean Machine (Vapour Recovery) Regulation | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 | 2 500 |
| Breach of Fuel Restriction Regulation | 5 500 | 4 000 | 1 500 | 2 750 |
| Breach of Open Burning Regulation | 7 200 | 2 000 | 1 000 | 1 440 |
| Breach of Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance | 78 800 | 50 000 | 2 800 | 19 700 |
| Breach of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulation | 19 500 | 12 000 | 2 500 | 6 500 |
| Contravention of terms and conditions of licence | 40 000 | 5 000 | 5 000 | 5 000 |
| Defective Design | 34 500 | 8 000 | 5 000 | 6 900 |
| Illegal Installation/Alteration | 80 000 | 6 000 | 3 000 | 4 444 |
| Others | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 500 | 1 500 |
