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Letter to the Editor of SCMP dated 15 August 2006 - Emission Reduction Targets for the Pearl River Delta Region
I refer to the editorial entitled "Transparency needed on air quality targets" and two reports entitled "One Sky, two air pollution targets" and "Explanation sought for discrepancy on emission targets" appearing in your newspaper today.
Contrary to what you have suggested, when it comes to tackling regional air pollution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region, there is only one set of emission reduction targets agreed between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Guangdong Provincial Government in April 2002, i.e. the 2010 emission reduction targets.
The Environmental Protection Framework Plan for PRD (2004 - 2020) dated February 2005, mentioned by you, has been prepared by the Guangdong Provincial Government in accordance with the Mainland's prevailing requirements. Guangdong has its own purposes in preparing the plan. The plan does not stop Guangdong from achieving the emission reduction targets agreed with us.
To ensure the achievement of the agreed targets by 2010, the PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan was drawn up in December 2003 and has been reviewed regularly by EPD and Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau. This management plan contains more measures than the Environmental Protection Framework Plan for PRD, including those in combating vehicle emissions, improving fuel quality, introducing liquefied natural gas for power generation, and tackling emissions of volatile organic compounds. We believe that the agreed targets are achievable through the implementation of the management plan. Details of the management plan are available at EPD's homepage.
Both Hong Kong and Guangdong take the 2010 emission reduction targets very seriously. On August 2, when the 9th Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference was held in Guangzhou, our Chief Executive and the Governor of Guangdong Province reconfirmed the two sides' commitment to meeting the targets by 2010. Such a commitment was conveyed loud and clear during the press conference on the 9th Plenary Session.
Indeed Guangdong has been proactive and taking the lead in the Mainland when it comes to tackling environmental problems, particularly air pollution. For example, the regional air quality monitoring network, jointly set up by the two sides, has been the first of its kind in the Mainland. The public now has access to the PRD Regional Air Quality Index, which is an objective indicator of air quality in the region. Apart from showing the air quality situation, it facilitates understanding of the effectiveness of the reduction measures and formulation of more effective strategies.
The public can rest assured that the two sides will do everything possible to ensure that the 2010 emission reduction targets will be met on schedule. A Handbook for compiling the emission inventories in the PRD region, agreed in 2005, will be the objective basis for assessing the progress of emission reduction.
Esmond Lee
Deputy Director
for Director of Environmental Protection
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