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This section gives an overview on air pollution control in Hong Kong. For more information on Hong Kong's air quality, please visit Air Quality Objectives, API & Air Quality, Indoor Air Quality, Ozone Layer Protection, Problems & Solutions, Public Consultation, Data & Statistics, Study Reports and Guidelines & References.
AN OVERVIEW ON AIR QUALITY AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL IN HONG KONG
THE AIR QUALITY PROGRAMME
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Hong Kong has been facing two air pollution issues. One is local street-level pollution. The other is the regional smog problem. Diesel vehicles are the main source of street-level pollution. Smog, however, is caused by a combination of pollutants from motor vehicles, industry and power plants both in Hong Kong and in the Pearl River Delta region.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government gives high priority to controlling both street-level air pollution and smog. The main strategies include:
- Implementing a wide range of measures to control emissions from motor vehicles, power plants, and industrial and commercial processes locally.
- Working with Guangdong Provincial Authorities to implement a joint plan to tackle the regional smog problem.
Reducing Emissions from Vehicles
Motor vehicles, especially diesel vehicles, are the main causes of high concentrations of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at street level in Hong Kong.
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To tackle this problem, the Government introduced a comprehensive programme in 2000 with targets to reduce RSPs and NOx emissions from motor vehicles by 80% and 30% respectively by the end of 2005. The key measures include :
- adopt tighter fuel and vehicle emission standards;
- adopt cleaner alternatives to diesel where practicable;
- control emissions from remaining diesels with devices that trap pollutants;
- strengthen vehicle emission inspections and enforcement against smoky vehicles; and
- promote better vehicle maintenance and eco-driving habits.
The measures had borne fruit – air quality in districts with heavy traffic has already improved. Compared with 1999, the roadside concentrations of the major air pollutant emissions from vehicles, namely respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), had been reduced by 22% and 23% respectively in 2008, and the number of smoky vehicles spotted has also been reduced by about 80%. The Government introduced additional measures in 2007 and 2008 to strengthen its effort in reducing vehicle emissions. The measures include:
- to incentivise early replacement of old diesel commercial vehicles with vehicles that comply with the prevailing statutory emission standard for newly registered vehicles, which is now Euro IV standard;
- to encourage the use of environment-friendly petrol private cars through tax concession;
- to introduce a concessionary duty of $0.56 for Euro V diesel. Since then, all petrol filling stations in Hong Kong are exclusively offering this fuel. Starting from 14 July 2008, the duty rate for Euro V diesel has been waived to further encourage drivers to use this more environment-friendly fuel;
- to complete a public consultation on whether to introduce legislation to ban idling vehicles from running their engines; and
- to encourage the use of environment-friendly commercial vehicles through tax concession.
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| Taxis operating on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were introduced as cleaner alternative to replace diesel taxis |
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| [Chart of Reducing Number of Smoky Vehicle - Emission Testing Notice Issued] |
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| The number of smoky vehicles spotted has reduced substantially as a result of measures taken to reduce vehicular emissions in recent years |
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For details, please see Cleaning the Air at Street Level.
Reducing Emissions from Industrial Sources and Power Plants
The Air Pollution Control Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations provide the control of emissions from power plants, industrial and commercial sources, construction activities, open burning, asbestos, petrol filling stations and dry-cleaning machines.
A regulation introduced in 1990 limiting the sulphur content of industrial fuel has reduced sulphur dioxide pollution to very low levels.
[Chart of Sulphur dioxide hitby tightened fuel standard (Industrial Area)]
Emissions from power plants have been substantially reduced over the years even though demand for power has increased.
[Chart of Pollutant Emission from Power Plants and Electricity Consumption]
Reducing Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions
VOCs are found in a lot of products such as solvent-based paints, printing inks, many consumer products, organic solvents and petroleum products. Other than motor vehicles, the use of these products releases VOCs which cause air pollution and smog (VOCs and Smog). To reduce VOC emissions, the Government has implemented control measures to recover petrol vapour released during petrol unloading and refueling at petrol stations, and to tighten emissions standards of motor vehicles in line with the European Union standards.The VOC Regulation, effective from 1 April 2007 under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, controls the VOC content in architectural paints/coatings, printing inks and six broad categories of consumer products (i.e. air fresheners, hairsprays, multi-purpose lubricants, floor wax strippers, insecticides and insect repellents); and requires emission reduction devices to be installed on certain printing machines. The regulation was amended in October 2009 to extend the control to other products with high VOC content, including adhesives, sealants, vehicle refinishing paints/coatings, and marine vessel and pleasure craft paints/coatings, starting from 1 January 2010 in phases.
Tackling Regional Air Pollution
Vehicles, industry and power plants in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region all contribute to a regional air pollution problem, commonly seen as smog. The Hong Kong and Guangdong governments are working on a joint plan to reduce the total amount of emissions and stop air quality from further deteriorating as soon as practicable, and in the long term to achieve good air quality for the whole region.
OUR GLOBAL OBLIGATION
Ozone Layer Protection
The Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance enables Hong Kong to fully comply with international obligations under the Montreal Protocol to phase out ozone depleting substances, and to control the import and export of these substances. For details, please visit Ozone Layer Protection.
AIR QUALITY INFORMATION
The EPD monitors RSPs, NOx and other pollutants. It provides updates on Air Pollution Index every hour, and prepares annual reports on air pollution levels. For details, please visit API & Air Quality.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing concern. The EPD has set up an Indoor Air Quality Information Centre to provide information on IAQ and its management as well as to display products and technologies that can help improve IAQ. For details, please visit Indoor Air Quality.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
[Image of Help Clear the Air]Citizens can help reduce air pollution by choosing public instead of personalised transport and doing such things as turning off electric lights and appliances when not in use. For more tips on reducing air pollution, please refer to Help Clean the Air.
Industry, developers and others can also play their parts by observing air pollution control laws and exercising good practices in their operations. Please refer to Guidelines & References for a full account of compliance guides and good practices.
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