Open burning activities in Hong Kong

Open burning activities in Hong Kong

The Air Pollution Control (Open Burning) Regulation (Cap. 311O) (the Regulation) prohibits open burning for the following purposes:

i) the disposal of construction waste;

ii) the clearance of a site in preparation for construction work;

iii) the disposal of tyres; and

iv) the salvage of metal.

A person carrying out opening burning shall first apply for and obtain a permit in accordance with Section 6 of the Regulation, except the following :

i. burning of candle-sticks, joss paper, incense, sacrificial articles and ritual offerings to the deceased, spirits and gods in customary or religious rites, festivals and on festive occasions;

ii. fires used solely for cooking of food for human consumption, or fires used solely for recreational purposes using wood or charcoal or a small amount of firestarter;

iii. fires set for the purpose of fire testing, training and education by any Government fire fighting force or agency;

iv. agricultural burning of materials grown on the site, solely for the purpose of weeding, land disinfection, pest control, or burning to make firebreaks in the countryside; and

v. any open burning which in the opinion of the Director of Environmental Protection is required in an emergency for the purpose of ensuring public safety.

How to apply:

An application shall be made in a standard application form, together with the prescribed application fee and documents as listed in the form, not less than 28 days prior to the carrying out of the intended open burning. Please refer to A Guide to the Air Pollution Control (Open Burning) Regulation for more information about the Regulation.