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Press Release
Response to media report on a EPD scientific study
A spokesman of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) pointed out that the report by a local Chinese newspaper today (September 21) on the air quality of Hong Kong was premised on a misunderstanding of the purpose and parameters of the study on "Determination of Suspended Particulate and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Emission Profiles for Vehicular Sources in Hong Kong" which was released by EPD on its homepage in July 2005.
"The purpose of the study is to enhance the understanding of and improve the assessment methods for local motor vehicle emissions. Findings of the study have confirmed many of our current understandings on vehicle emissions in Hong Kong and the validity of methods being used to assess their emissions", the EPD spokesman said.
The newspaper's comparison of the results of the seven monitoring locations of the study and the PM2.5 concentrations US standard was inappropriate and misleading. Of the six monitoring locations, three were inside road tunnels and three were at the roadside, but the US PM2.5 standard is applicable only to general outdoor air. For the general outdoor air samples collected in the same study, the measured PM2.5 concentrations were actually below the US standard.
The study also found that the emissions of various pollutants in tunnels of Hong Kong are generally lower than in tunnels of other countries. This reflects that our vehicle emission control programme is in general successful.
The spokesman reiterated that EPD would consider the need for revising Hong Kong's Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) from a scientific perspective and local applicability, by making reference to the results of the reviews in the US, European Union (EU) and other developed countries, in conjunction with information obtained from ongoing local studies.
The US environmental authorities are reviewing their current standards for particulates, including PM2.5,and have pledged to complete the review by 2006. The EU does not yet have a standard for PM2.5 and is still reviewing the justifications and the need for a PM2.5 standard.
EPD has been in close contact with these overseas environmental authorities and will take these overseas reviews into account when considering the need for a PM2.5 standard in Hong Kong.
"The Government has introduced a comprehensive and effective package of measures to combat air pollution", said the EPD spokesman.
Details of the Government's air pollution control strategies can be found on the EPD webpage (http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/strategies_apc.html).
Ends/Wednesday, September 21, 2005
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