Amended environmental regulation to cut sulphur dioxide gazetted

 

Press Release

Amended environmental regulation to cut sulphur dioxide gazetted 

The Government published today (May 16) in the Gazette amended regulations to impose restrictions on the use of liquid fuels in order to further control the emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2), a major pollutant responsible for respiratory illness.

The new legislation - the Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) (Amendment) Regulations - mandates the use of ultra low sulphur diesel, i.e. clean diesel with sulphur content of no more than 0.005 % by weight, in industrial and commercial processes.

"SO2 plays a significant role in causing regional air pollution. It reacts with other chemicals in the atmosphere and transforms into fine particles which impair visibility and contribute to smog formation. The SAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government reached a consensus in 2002 to reduce SO2 by 40% by 2010, using 1997 as the base year," a spokesman of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said.

"This new legislation will help us reach the reduction target, which in turn will enable Hong Kong to improve the smog problem," he added.

"We expect that the proposal can reduce local SO2 emissions by about 2,480 tonnes annually. It will improve air quality and help improve public health."

"It will also bring Hong Kong to the forefront of using clean fuel in the world, since at present nowhere in the world is clean fuel being used in this comprehensive manner," he said.

"The new legislation will not cause any major impact on the operational environment of the industrial and commercial sectors. We believe it could create a 'win-win' situation for both the environment and the business sector, showing that protecting the environment need not be at the expense of economic growth."

The amended regulations will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 21. Subject to approval by the Legislative Council, it will take effect from October 1, 2008.


Ends/Friday, May 16, 2008 




  
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