I refer to the letters on air pollution (November 5, 6).
A combination of calm weather over two weeks and the effect of tropical storm Melor approaching the South China Sea resulted in the build-up of an unusual level of pollution over Hong Kong and the Pearl delta and very high pollution on November 3. Although such a level is unusual, the government fully recognises the need to tackle air pollution and is taking strong actions locally and with Guangdong.
Locally, our comprehensive control programme to reduce vehicle emissions includes the LPG taxi programme; particulate reduction device retrofit programme for old diesel vehicles; incentive programme for replacing diesel light buses with LPG or electric vehicles; adoption of the Euro III emission standards; introduction of ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD); and strengthened emission tests and enforcement against smoky vehicles. The government is also exploring measures to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy.
We were among the first in Asia to introduce ULSD, in July 2000, and are still among the few international cities to use it exclusively on diesel vehicles. Our LPG vehicle fleet now accounts for about 20 per cent of total vehicle mileage, much higher than in the US, which only has 3 per cent of vehicles operating on clean alternative fuels such as LPG. Respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen oxides have dropped by 19 and 16 per cent respectively at roadside since 1999, and the number of smoky vehicles has fallen by 70 per cent in this period. Furthermore, the number of hours for which monitoring stations recorded a pollution index figure exceeding 100 was 928 for this year up to November 2, against 1,412 in the same period of 1999.
The Hong Kong and Guangdong governments have agreed to, on a best endeavour basis, aim to cut the emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, respirable suspended particulates and volatile organic compounds in the Pearl River Delta region by 40, 20, 55 and 55 per cent respectively, using 1997 as the base year, and strive to achieve these targets by 2010. This reduction will greatly improve the haze in the region and air quality objectives in Hong Kong will also be met.
Meanwhile, any members of the public who are interested in becoming spotters for smoky vehicles may write to us at: the Environmental Protection Department, Rm 1001-1003, 10F, COL Tower, World Trade Square, 123 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon.
