Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) reiterated
Monday that Hong Kong does not tolerate foul air and more efforts
will be made to improve its air quality by reducing vehicle
emission and combating air pollution from power plants.
The department made the pledge in response to the very high Air
Pollution Indices (API) on Saturday and Sunday.
The highest API on Sunday morning was 149 recorded at Causeway
Bay. The EPD advised people with existing heart or respiratory
illnesses to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities.
The emission of sulfur dioxide in Hong Kong has actually risen
by 47 percent between 1997 and 2004. To achieve a sustained
improvement in the air quality, power companies must substantially
reduce their emissions, said a spokesman of the EPD.
Power generation emits 92 percent of the sulfur dioxide and half
of the nitrogen oxides in Hong Kong. Hence the EPD puts power
plants under close surveillance.
"Apart from making efforts to reduce emissions, the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has
been working with the Guangdong Authorities to reduce emissions of
the entire Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region," he said.
On September 28, 2005, Hong Kong and
Guangdong Province pledged to implement the PRD Regional Air
Quality Management Plan (Management Plan) progressively with a view
to achieving the agreed emissions reduction targets for air
pollutants by 2010.
The spokesman said, in 2006, the major tasks under the
Management Plan will include the completion of the Phase I
construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trunk pipeline in
Guangdong Province and further implementation of National III motor
vehicle emission standards in Pearl River Delta cities while Hong
Kong will implement Euro IV motor vehicle emission standards in
line with the EU.
In addition, the data collected by the Regional Air Quality
Monitoring Network will be analyzed by environmental protection
authorities.
(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2006)