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 2020, the EPD gave advice on 1417 occasions, served 117 notices and undertook 67 prosecutions under the APCO and 4 prosecution under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance (OLPO)(see chart below).
Air Pollution Enforcement Statistics in 2020
| Chimney Applications Processed | 408 |
| Specified Process Licences (Newly Issued) | 7 |
| Notices Served | 117 |
| Prosecutions (APCO & OLPO) | 71 |
| Technical Advice Given | 1 417 |
Fines Imposed for Air Pollution Convictions in 2020 (HK$)
|
|
Total |
Highest |
Lowest |
Average |
|
Breach of Asbestos Requirement |
98 500 |
6 000 |
2 000 |
3 518 |
|
Breach of Construction Dust Regulation |
14 000 |
5 000 |
4 000 |
4 667 |
|
Defective Design |
49 0 00 |
10 000 |
3 0 00 |
7 000 |
|
Illegal Installation/Alteration |
39 000 |
10 900 |
8 100 |
9 750 |
|
Fails to comply with air pollution abatement notice |
86 500 |
10 000 |
3 000 |
6 179 |
|
Breach of Fuel for Vessels Regulation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Breach of Volatile Organic Compounds Regulation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Dark Smoke Emission |
4 000 |
4 000 |
4 000 |
4 000 |
|
Breach of Specified Process Licence Requirements |
40 000 |
20 000 |
8 000 |
13 333 |
|
Breach of Non-road Mobile Machinery (Emission) Regulation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Breach of Ocean Going Vessels (Fuel at Berth) Regulation |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Breach of Open Burning Regulation |
6 000 |
3 000 |
1 000 |
1 500 |
|
Breach of Ozone Layer Protector Ordinance |
80 000 |
40 000 |
10 000 |
20 000 |
