Researchers at City University have developed a ground-breaking mobile detector that can measure the amount of harmful emissions coming from a moving vehicle.
By using it while tailing the suspect vehicle, the device can give a reading for volatile organic compounds and other pollutants.
'What we have is a breakthrough,' said City University assistant professor Dr Ning Zhi, who developed the technology.
'There are other types of technology in Hong Kong that inspect vehicle emissions but are nowhere as extensive. They either take several days to produce results, or are not mobile and can only inspect a stationary car, which is not precise at all.
'But our system is mobile and produces results in one to two minutes. We can drive around, select a vehicle and measure pollutants in its emissions.'
Volatile organic compounds are major pollutants, along with suspended particulates and nitrogen oxides, that are responsible for smog and which can aggravate heart and respiratory problems.