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Press Release
EPD response to report on air pollution
In response to media enquiries on a report that estimates the impact of air pollution on population health with visibility as an indicator, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department reiterated today (June 8) that improvement of air quality topped the Government's environmental agenda and any community support that helped achieving this goal was welcome.
"Degradation of visibility is a problem not only for Hong Kong but the whole Pearl River Delta (PRD), given the rapid growth in urbanization and industrial activities and the associated air pollution in the region," the spokesman said.
To improve air quality, the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments have agreed, by the year 2010, to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) respectively by 40 per cent, 20 per cent, 55 per cent and 55 per cent from 1997 emission onwards.
The spokesman noted that power plants were the largest pollution source in Hong Kong, accounting for 92 per cent of local SO2 emissions and half of NOx and RSP emissions.
"The Government has made proposals to reduce emissions from power plants through the post 2008 Scheme of Control," he said.
The Government is determined to achieve the emission reduction targets agreed with Guangdong for 2010, through local emission reduction measures and co-operation with Guangdong.
"Achieving the targets will yield substantial improvement to the air quality and the smog problem of the region," the spokesman said.
He noted that the health care expenditure attributable to air pollution was indirect and long-term.
On the review of Air Quality Objectives, the spokesman said "we have been in close liaison with relevant international experts and organizations on the development of air quality standards objectives."
"We will take into account the review findings in the United States, European Union and World Health Organisation, as well as the on-going local studies, when considering the need and justification for the introduction of new standards," he said.
Ends/Thursday, June 8, 2006
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