Bronte Wells
Hong Kong's air pollution is mainly caused by power plants, vehicles, and marine vessels. The two greatest challenges are local street-level pollution and regional smog, with diesel vehicles being the main source of street-level pollution. The Hong Kong government has implemented various measures to tackle these issues, such as the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035, which aims to make Hong Kong a more liveable city with air quality on par with major international cities by 2035. The government is also promoting the use of electric vehicles and encouraging citizens to use public transportation. In addition, Hong Kong is working with the Guangdong Provincial Government to implement a joint plan to tackle the regional smog problem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air Quality Objectives | Hong Kong's Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) are set out in the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 311) |
| Air Quality Management Plan | The Regional Air Quality Management Plan coordinates initiatives in different cities to improve air quality in the Pearl River Delta region |
| Air Quality Monitoring | The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional Air Monitoring Network provides information on regional air pollution levels |
| Indoor Air Quality | The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has established an Indoor Air Quality Information Centre to promote healthy indoor environments and raise awareness |
| Public Transport Encouragement | Citizens are encouraged to use public transport instead of private vehicles to reduce emissions |
| Energy Consumption Reduction | Reducing energy consumption at home, such as turning off appliances and lights when not in use, can help decrease air pollution from power stations |
| Energy Efficiency | Choosing energy-efficient appliances and maintaining adequate ventilation by opening windows can improve indoor air quality |
| Vehicle Emissions Control | Implementing vehicle emission control programs and promoting the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce roadside pollution |
| Power Plants | Controlling emissions from power plants, including the use of compliant fuel and ultra-low sulphur diesel |
| Industrial and Commercial Activities | Implementing measures to control emissions from industrial and commercial sources, such as limiting sulphur content in industrial fuel |
| Regional Collaboration | Collaborating with the Guangdong Provincial Government to address the regional smog problem and improve air quality |
| Air Quality Improvement Plans | The Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035 sets long-term goals and strategies to enhance air quality, aiming for parity with major international cities |
| Air Quality Index | The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) provides hourly updates on short-term health risks of air pollution, enabling individuals to take necessary precautions |
| Air Pollution Awareness | Raising public awareness about the health risks of air pollution, such as exacerbating asthma and increasing the risk of cardio-respiratory issues |
| Construction Sites | Regulating construction sites and discouraging open burning of wastes to minimize fugitive dust emissions |
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What You'll Learn
Hong Kong's Clean Air Plan 2035
Addressing Local Street-level Pollution: Commercial vehicles, particularly diesel-powered trucks, buses and light buses, are the primary sources of street-level pollution. The plan aims to reduce vehicle emissions by promoting the use of new energy vehicles, such as electric cars, and implementing stricter emission control programmes. This includes the Hong Kong Roadmap on the Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, which outlines long-term objectives for increasing the adoption of electric vehicles.
Tackling Regional Smog: Smog is caused by a combination of pollutants from motor vehicles, marine vessels, industry, and power plants in Hong Kong and the neighbouring Pearl River Delta region. To address this, the Hong Kong government is collaborating with the Guangdong Provincial Government to implement joint plans, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional Air Monitoring Network. This network monitors air pollution levels in the region, ensuring that individual initiatives in different cities work together to improve air quality for all.
Reducing Emissions from Power Plants: Power stations are a significant source of air pollution in Hong Kong, with coal-fired plants and vehicular traffic contributing greatly to the problem. The Clean Air Plan 2035 aims to control emissions from power plants by setting regional emission reduction targets, in collaboration with the Guangdong Provincial Government. This includes transitioning to net-zero electricity generation and encouraging the use of cleaner fuels, such as liquefied natural gas.
Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Recognising that people spend the majority of their time indoors, the plan emphasises the importance of maintaining good IAQ. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has established an Indoor Air Quality Information Centre to provide practical measures for improving IAQ. This includes encouraging the use of energy-efficient appliances, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining adequate ventilation by opening windows.
Public Education and Awareness: The Clean Air Plan 2035 also focuses on raising public awareness about air pollution and the importance of individual actions. The EPD provides hourly updates on the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and releases annual reports on air quality. Additionally, the EPD encourages citizens to contribute to cleaner air by choosing public transportation, turning off appliances when not in use, and adopting other energy-saving practices.
The Clean Air Plan 2035 sets ambitious goals and strategies to improve Hong Kong's air quality, aiming to make it on par with major international cities by 2035. By addressing local and regional pollution sources and promoting sustainable practices, the plan strives to reduce health risks, enhance the city's liveability, and ensure a healthier future for Hong Kong's residents.
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Reducing vehicle emissions
Hong Kong's air pollution is largely caused by motor vehicles, marine vessels, and power plants. The two greatest challenges are local street-level pollution and regional smog. Diesel vehicles, particularly trucks, buses, and light buses, are the main sources of street-level pollution.
To tackle this, the Hong Kong government has implemented a series of vehicle emission control measures in recent years. These include:
- An incentive-cum-regulatory programme to phase out old diesel commercial vehicles.
- Replacement of catalytic converters and oxygen sensors of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis and light buses.
- Strengthening emissions control on LPG and petrol vehicles.
- Retrofitting Euro II and III diesel franchised buses with selective catalytic reduction devices (SCR).
- Tightening vehicle emission standards.
- Deploying roadside remote sensing equipment to identify vehicles emitting excessively.
In March 2021, the government announced the Hong Kong Roadmap on the Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, which outlines long-term policy objectives and plans to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and their supporting facilities.
Other measures to reduce vehicle emissions include:
- The introduction of Euro V diesel in December 2007, which capped the sulphur content at 0.001%.
- The VOC Regulation, effective from 1 April 2007, which controls the VOC content of certain products and requires emission reduction devices to be installed on specified printing machines.
- The Action Blue Sky Campaign, an environmental campaign launched in July 2006.
- An ex gratia payment scheme introduced in 2014 to encourage vehicle owners to scrap about 82,000 pre-Euro VI vehicles.
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Improving indoor air quality
Government Initiatives:
- The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has established an Indoor Air Quality Information Centre to promote healthy indoor environments and raise awareness about IAQ. The centre provides practical measures and information to help citizens improve IAQ.
- The EPD monitors various pollutants, including PM10 and NOx, and provides hourly updates through the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). It also releases annual reports on air quality.
- The Hong Kong government has implemented the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035, aiming to achieve air quality on par with major international cities by 2035. This plan includes strategies such as promoting electric vehicles, green transport, and net-zero electricity generation.
- The government is also working to control emissions from power plants, industrial and commercial activities, and marine vessels, as well as setting regional emission reduction targets with the Guangdong Provincial Government.
Individual Actions:
- Citizens can reduce energy consumption at home by turning off appliances, lights, and air conditioners when not in use. Maintaining an air-conditioned temperature between 24°C and 26°C or above in summer can save energy and improve IAQ.
- Choosing energy-efficient appliances with the Energy Label can also help reduce indoor air pollution.
- Opening windows to maintain adequate ventilation is essential for improving IAQ.
- Individuals can contribute to reducing street-level pollution by opting for public transportation or electric vehicles instead of private cars.
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Reducing energy consumption
Hong Kong has been facing two major air pollution issues: local street-level pollution and regional smog. The former is mainly caused by diesel vehicles, especially trucks, buses, and light buses, while the latter is caused by a combination of pollutants from motor vehicles, marine vessels, industry, and power plants in Hong Kong and the neighbouring Pearl River Delta (PRD) region.
To reduce energy consumption and tackle these air pollution issues, the Hong Kong government has implemented several measures and strategies:
- The government has set a target to increase local gas generation to around 50% of the total fuel mix for electricity generation by 2020. By 2023, with the addition of two new gas-fired units, the proportion of gas generation is expected to reach 57%.
- As outlined in the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, the government aims to phase out coal for daily electricity generation by 2035 and increase the use of low-carbon energy sources, such as natural gas and renewable energy.
- The government is also developing waste-to-energy (WTE) plants and promoting the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) to encourage investment in distributed renewable energy projects.
- To reduce energy consumption at the individual level, the government encourages citizens to turn off electric appliances and lights when not in use, maintain a moderate air-conditioned temperature, and choose energy-efficient appliances with the Energy Label.
- Additionally, citizens are encouraged to use public transportation instead of private vehicles, reducing both energy consumption and street-level pollution.
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Working with Guangdong
Air pollution is a significant issue in Hong Kong, with roadside vehicle emissions and regional smog being the most pressing problems. The Hong Kong government has been working with the Guangdong Provincial Government to implement a range of measures to improve regional air quality.
The Regional Air Quality Management Plan is a collaborative effort between Hong Kong and Guangdong to coordinate initiatives in different cities to improve air quality in the Pearl River Delta region. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta Regional Air Monitoring Network is responsible for monitoring the results of these initiatives.
The Hong Kong government has also been working with the Guangdong government to address pollution from power plants, land and sea transport, and non-road mobile machinery. In 2013, the Hong Kong government released the first Clean Air Plan, which outlined measures to tackle these sources of pollution and strengthen collaboration with Guangdong. A progress report published in 2017 detailed the implementation and achievements of this plan.
In addition to government efforts, some companies and local business organizations in Hong Kong have recognized the impact of their factories' pollution and are taking steps to reduce it. However, price controls on certain types of fuel make it challenging for these businesses to access less polluting alternatives. Encouragingly, if the Guangdong government supports its manufacturers in reducing pollution, this could give them a competitive advantage when dealing with major retailers like Walmart, which is prioritizing sustainability in its supply chain.
Overall, the collaboration between Hong Kong and Guangdong is crucial in addressing regional pollution levels, and ongoing initiatives and monitoring aim to ensure that air quality in the Delta region improves for all residents.
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Frequently asked questions
Hong Kong has implemented a comprehensive vehicle emission control programme, which has improved air quality substantially. The government is also promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, with the long-term policy objectives and plans outlined in the Hong Kong Roadmap on the Popularisation of Electric Vehicles.
Hong Kong has been working to control emissions from power plants, with measures such as the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, which regulates sulphur content in industrial fuel. The government has also set targets for reducing emissions from power plants and is working towards net-zero electricity generation.
Hong Kong has been collaborating with the Guangdong Provincial Government to implement a joint plan to tackle the regional smog problem. This includes working together to implement marine emission control in coastal waters.
