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 2019, the EPD gave advice on 1994 occasions, served 140 notices and undertook 104 prosecutions under the APCO and 1 prosecution under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (OLPO)(see chart below).
Air Pollution Enforcement Statistics in 2019
| Chimney Applications Processed | 454 |
| Specified Process Licences (Newly Issued) | 4 |
| Notices Served | 140 |
| Prosecutions (APCO & OLPO) | 105 |
| Technical Advice Given | 1 994 |
Fines Imposed for Air Pollution Convictions in 2019 (HK$)
| Total | Highest | Lowest | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Asbestos Requirement | 117 050 | 10 000 | 1 000 | 3 902 |
| Breach of Construction Dust Regulation | 80 000 | 12 000 | 2 000 | 4 444 |
| Defective Design | 115 000 | 12 000 | 3 000 | 7 188 |
| Illegal Installation/Alteration | 148 150 | 21 600 | 4 200 | 12 346 |
| Fails to comply with air pollution abatement notice | 53 000 | 10 000 | 5 000 | 7 571 |
| Breach of Fuel for Vessels Regulation | 25 000 | 10 000 | 5 000 | 8 333 |
| Breach of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulation | 24 000 | 10 000 | 6 000 | 8 000 |
| Dark Smoke Emission | 13 000 | 10 000 | 3 000 | 6 500 |
| Breach of Specified Process Licence Requirements | 19 000 | 10 000 | 9 000 | 9 500 |
| Breach of Non-road Mobile Machinery (Emission) Regulation | 12 000 | 6 000 | 6 000 | 6 000 |
| Breach of Ocean Going Vessels (Fuel at Berth) Regulation | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 | 12 000 |
| Breach of Open Burning Regulation | 3 000 | 3 000 | 3 000 | 3 000 |
| Breach of Ozone Layer Protector Ordinance | 20 000 | 20 000 | 20 000 | 20 000 |
