News & Notices
- The Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 has come into force since 4 April 2014. The import, transhipment, supply and use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos containing materials is now banned in Hong Kong. Please click here to obtain the details.
- Starting from June 2018, the pre-requisite requirements on "recognized academic qualification" and "recognized working experience" for registering as a registered asbestos supervisor have been modified to facilitate construction industry personnel with relevant vocational training qualifications and work experience to apply for registration as registered asbestos supervisors. Please click here to obtain the details.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos includes the minerals, and substances including the minerals, amosite, crocidolite, chrysotile, fibrous actinolite, fibrous anthophyllite and fibrous tremolite.
Why is asbestos hazardous to health?
Asbestos can split into very fine fibres which can remain airborne for long periods of time after release. When inhaled, asbestos fibres can remain in the body for many years. The following diseases may be caused by exposure to asbestos fibres:
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest or of the abdominal wall
- asbestosis, scarring of the lung with fibrous tissue
The symptoms of asbestos related diseases may not appear until about 10 to 40 years after first exposure to asbestos.
Common Asbestos Containing Material
Most products made today do not contain asbestos. However, you can find suspected asbestos containing materials in buildings built before the mid 1980s. Some common examples are:
| thermal insulation | : | lagging materials for steam and hot water pipe, heater, boiler, furnace, chimney, flue duct |
| electrical insulation | : | switch box arc chutes, cable tray |
| sound absorption | : | acoustic plaster sprayed on ceiling and wall |
| fireproofing | : | filling material in wall and floor penetration, laboratory bench top, fire blanket, fire curtain |
| building materials | : | corrugated cement sheet for roofing, wall board, cement roof tile, asphalt roofing felt, vinyl floor covering, cement soil stack, cement pipe, refuse chute, ceiling tile |
| friction products | : | brake lining, clutch facing |
| building services | : | air duct flexible joint, cable trough and conduit, cistern |
| sealing and jointing | : | gasket, gland packing materials for pump and valve, putty, adhesive |
You cannot tell with certainty whether a material contains asbestos by its appearance or colour. Therefore, it is safer to take a precautionary attitude and treat all suspect materials as asbestos containing unless proved otherwise by a registered asbestos consultant.
Roof
Canopy
Soil Retaining Wall
Environmental Legislations
The Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Cap. 311
The owner/occupier of the premises shall hire a registered asbestos contractor to carry out the removal of the asbestos containing materials. They shall give a written notice to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) not less than 28 days prior to the commencement of the work. Please click here to obtain the details.
The Waste Disposal (Chemical Waste) (General) Regulation, Cap. 354C
Asbestos waste is a chemical waste. It should not be mixed with household waste, nor delivered to the refuse collection points nor public dumping areas. Registered asbestos contractor shall arrange a licensed collector to remove the asbestos waste in accordance with the Regulation. Please click here to obtain the details.
Leaflets & Posters
Guidelines and References
Preparation of Asbestos Investigation Report Asbestos Management Plan and Asbestos Abatement Plan
(reviewed in Dec 2024)
This Code of Practice provides guidance and advice to registered asbestos consultants on conduction of asbestos investigations and subsequent formulation of overall asbestos management and abatement strategies.
Safe Handling of Low Risk Asbestos Containing Material
(reviewed in Dec 2024)
This Code of Practice provides guidance and advice to registered contractors, supervisors and laboratories on safe handling of low risk asbestos containing material.
Asbestos Work Using Full Containment or Mini Containment Method
(reviewed in Dec 2024)
This Code of Practice provides guidance and advice to registered consultants, supervisors and laboratories on asbestos work using full containment or mini containment method.
Asbestos Work Using Glove Bag Method
(reviewed in Dec 2024)
This Code of Practice provides guidance and advice to registered consultants, supervisors and laboratories on asbestos work using glove bag method.
This Guidance Note provides advice on the streamlined procedures of handling specific CACS to registered asbestos professionals and it is a supplement to the Code of Practice on Asbestos Control “Safe Handling of Low Risk Asbestos Containing Material".
Code of Practice on the Handling, Transportation and Disposal of Asbestos Waste
This Code is to provide guidance and advice on the collection, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of asbestos waste.
Handling of Asbestos Containing Materials in Building (ProPECC Note 2/97) (English Version Only)
This Practice Note provides guidance to the professional persons on the basic precautionary measures commonly applicable to asbestos abatement work, and the general approaches in management of asbestos in existing buildings.
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Gazette Notice 25/1997 - GN 3021 and GN 3022
This Gazette Notice specifies the classes of work for which an owner of premises is exempted from certain requirements under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance.
Asbestos Administration Committee
The Asbestos Administration Committee is appointed in accordance with Section 52 of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311). Its functions are :
(i) assisting the Authority in processing applications for entry in the registers of asbestos personnel;
(ii) hearing complaints of a disciplinary nature against persons whose names are on any of the registers and make recommendations that it sees fit; and
(iii) carrying out other functions and duties of the Authority relating to asbestos, its use and disposal that the Authority may delegate in writing to it.
Please click here to obtain the details.
Information
Application Forms under Asbestos Control
List of Registers of Asbestos Professionals
List of Machinery/products that may contain asbestos
Safe Handling of Asbestos Containing Material by Building Management (Video)
Complaint and Enquiry
General Enquiry : Tel : 2755 3554 Fax : 2834 9960
Complaint Hotline : Tel/Fax : 2838 3111
Correspondence : 28/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Links
Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board
Link to Bilingual Laws Information System for the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Chapter 311)
Link to Bilingual Laws Information System for the Waste Disposal Ordinance (Chapter 354)
UK Health and Safety Executive
