Number of high-pollution hours drops 10 percent as govt tackles emissions

Air quality in Hong Kong slightly improved last year as the number of high-pollution hours dropped by around 10 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Department's (EPD) Air Quality and Health Index (AQHI).

The change was brought by an effective improvement of automobile emissions, according to Assistant Director (Air Policy) of Environmental Protection Mok Wai-chuen.

He expected the level of pollution would further drop as the government has been eliminating old-type diesel vehicles and mulling ways to tighten emission control standards.

Since the campaign to improve air quality started in 2014, the government has phased out more than 40 percent of Pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles in the city, according to EPD statistics.

Mok said after all the measures are carried out, the condition of the city's air environment will be able to meet the 2020 target set by the government - to reduce emissions of various pollutants by 15 percent to 75 percent.

Among roadside checkpoints, Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong's most famous shopping destinations, was the most polluted area across the city in 2015, according to EPD statistics.

In a total of 103 days - nearly one-third of the year - Causeway Bay's air pollution was rated "7 (high)" or above on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most polluted in the AQHI.

A pollution level of "high" means people's health is being affected by air pollution.

On overall above-ground air quality statistics, Tuen Mun topped the pollution list with 64 days rated "7 (high)". This was the result of pollutants from the Pearl River Delta, Mok said.

The EPD is now reviewing the outcome of a cross-border cooperation agreement signed by environmental authorities from both sides.

Compared with 2014 figures, the number of hours of high AQHI dropped 13 percent among above-ground checkpoints and 7 percent among roadside checkpoints.

Local air-quality concern group Clean Air Network (CAN) welcomed the authority's efforts in reducing pollution. However, it argued that the figures were at pretty much the same level as those of one or two decades ago.

CAN Director of Communication Patrick Fung Kin-wai urged more government departments to join these efforts. This included the transport authority, which should create more incentives for the public to encourage them to use public transport as well as to strengthen promotion of new energy vehicles in the city.

Contact the writers through luisliu@chinadailyhk.com

Kahon Chan contributed to the story.

(HK Edition 01/06/2016 page7)