272 The Environment
from petrol filling stations, and perchloroethylene emissions from dry-cleaning facilities, as well as VOC emissions from printing machines and the levels of VOC in selected products. Furthermore, with effect from October 1, 2008, the law mandates all industrial and commercial processes to use ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) to further reduce emissions of SO2.
The APCO also bans the import and sale of the more dangerous types of asbestos, namely amosite and crocidolite. Moreover, anyone intending to remove. asbestos must engage registered professionals, and submit asbestos investigation reports and plans to the department.
Power plants are the largest sources of emission. To ensure smooth, timely and transparent compliance with the emission caps imposed on power plants, the APCO was amended in 2008 to give statutory effects to the emission caps for power plants in 2010 and beyond. The amendments also provide for the local power plants to engage in emissions trading as an alternative means for achieving the emission caps.
The Government commissioned a comprehensive consultancy study in June 2007 to review Hong Kong's Air Quality Objectives and develop a long-term air quality management strategy, taking into account the latest international developments, including the Air Quality Guidelines recently published by the World Health Organisation. It is expected the study will be completed in 2009.
Air pollution is a cause of public concern, especially when the emission sources are near homes. In 2008, the department handled some 14 000 complaints of air pollution, of which some 7900 were about vehicle emissions, and issued about 1 700 legal notices instructing offenders to abate air pollution.
Transport
Vehicle emissions are the major source of air pollution and nuisance experienced at roadsides. The Government's policy is to apply the most stringent motor vehicle fuel and emission standards whenever they are practicable. Between 1999 and 2008, the concentrations of RSP and NOx, the two major air pollutants at roadsides, fell by 21 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.
Hong Kong largely follows the European Union's standards on emission and fuel. All newly registered vehicles are required to comply with the Euro IV standards, except for newly registered diesel private cars, which must meet emission standards that are even more stringent than the Euro IV standards. Diesel vehicles emit more NOx than petrol vehicles, which is a major contributor to smog.
Nearly all of Hong Kong's taxis are now running on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and about 60 per cent of public light buses are fuelled by LPG. To control emissions from older vehicles, the Government has made the installation of emission reduction devices a statutory requirement for all pre-Euro diesel vehicles seeking renewal of their license. This regulation went into force on April 1, 2007. Two new schemes were also launched on the same day to provide financial incentives to encourage early replacement of pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles with. new ones compliant with the prevailing emission standards (which is the Euro IV