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Letter to the Editor of the South China Morning Post dated 25 October 2005 - Response to the editorial of 23 October 2005 ("Actions speak louder than words on pollution")
In response to your editorial of 23 October 2005 ("Actions speak louder than words on pollution"), I would like to correct a few common misconceptions about fine particulates.
Fine particulates (also named PM2.5) are part and parcel of the respirable suspended particulates in the air. They are included in our monitoring of the air quality in Hong Kong. Most measures taken to reduce the emission of respirable suspended particulates also reduce the emission of fine particulates. As part of our overall strategy to improve air quality, the Government has introduced a comprehensive programme to reduce emissions from motor vehicles and has started imposing emission caps on power companies. We are also working in collaboration with the Guangdong authorities in implementing a regional air quality management plan to substantially reduce emissions in the Pearl River Delta Region by 2010, which is an essential step to tackle regional smog much of which is composed of fine particulates.
The efforts we have made to date to reduce local emissions indeed have resulted in significant results. Between 1993 and 2003, the total emission of suspended particulates in the air had been reduced by 54% from 16,200 tonnes to 7,380 tonnes. This reduction must be seen against the general increase in population and economic activities. It is also worth noting that during the same period, suspended particulates emitted from motor vehicles has been reduced by over 60%. Today, our taxi fleet is entirely fuelled by liquefied petroleum gas. The number of smoky vehicles on roads also has also been reduced by 80% since 1999. Nonetheless, we are not complacent and will continue to introduce more measures to reduce local emissions.
Regarding our Air Quality Objectives (AQOs), the Government has been monitoring closely the international development of air quality standards to ensure that the Hong Kong air quality objectives are up-to-date. The present AQOs are on a par with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of the US. The only exception is that the US has introduced a set of standards for fine particulates (PM2.5) to be achieved by 2015. However, currently these standards are being reviewed by the US EPA, and the result is expected to be available only by September 2006. Although the European Union has recently released a proposal for a fine particulates (PM2.5) annual average standard to be achieved by member states by 2015, the proposal is still being examined and a decision will not be made until 2007.
Ideally, the lower the concentration of air pollutants, the better. However, according to the Air Quality Guidelines for Europe published by the World Health Organization (WHO), considerations such as the prevailing exposure levels, technical feasibility, source control measures, abatement strategies, and social, economic and cultural conditions should be taken into account when setting air quality standards for a particular place. Most importantly, such standards should be realistic and achievable by the government concerned by means of pollution control measures.
This department will continue our close liaison with international experts and organisations on the development of AQOs. We will take into account the review findings in the US and EU when considering the need and justification for the introduction of new standards for fine particulates.
K K Kwok
Premanent Secretary for the Environment,
Transport and Works (Environment)
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