Last month, the administration published a report on air quality in the Pearl River Delta. It contained depressing news. Those living in this area need no reminding that we breathe foul air. Every morning, when we look out of the window, we know we are in dire straits.
In a joint effort to tackle the problem, the governments of Hong Kong and Guangdong reached a consensus in 2002 to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, respirable suspended particulates and volatile organic compounds by 2010.
The mid-term review of the delta regional air-quality management plan revealed that air pollution is far more serious than envisaged and a lot more effort is required if the 2010 targets are to be met.
One reason for the debacle is the rapid economic development in the delta's economic zone. The review found that the economy will rise by 509 per cent, the population by 56 per cent, electricity consumption by 158 per cent and vehicle mileage by 319 per cent by 2010, compared with 1997 levels. These figures far exceed the assumptions made in 2002.
Much of the delta pollution is caused by the 57,000 Hong Kong-owned factories, which make up about one-third of the factories in the province.
Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah told the Legislative Council that the 1997 pollutant emissions were underestimated in 2002 because there was no common or objective basis for assessment. A handbook was only compiled in 2005. These standards were used in the mid-term review to recalculate the emissions in 1997.
To tackle the problem, Mr Yau said the Guangdong provincial government had agreed to implement the existing control measures, and will carry out additional ones as recommended in the mid-term review.