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The Environment
the defects have been rectified. In 2015, 6,312 smoky vehicles were reported, about 89 per cent fewer than in 1999. The government deploys mobile roadside remote sensing equipment to detect LPG and petrol vehicles with excessive emissions. In 2015, 3,692 such vehicles were identified by the equipment.
To promote mass transit systems that are pollution-free at street level, the government gives priority to rail over road and encourages innovation wherever practical.
Marine transport
Marine vessels are the largest emission source in Hong Kong. To control marine emissions, the government has implemented a series of measures, including introducing the requirements of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI, regulating marine fuel quality by capping the sulphur content of local marine light diesel vessels at 0.05 per cent from 0.5 per cent from April 2014, and requiring ocean-going vessels to use low-sulphur marine fuel, with sulphur content of not more than 0.5 per cent, from July 2015.
Hong Kong is also collaborating with the Mainland on a plan to reduce vessel emissions in the region, including the establishment of a marine emission control zone in the Pearl River Delta waters by 2019.
Power generation
Power plants are a major source of local emissions. To improve local and regional air quality, the government has progressively tightened the statutory emission caps on the power sector and encouraged the power companies to use cleaner fuels. In December 2015, the emission caps. for the three key pollutants (SO2, NOx and RSP) were tightened from 2020 onwards by 50 to 69 per cent of the 2010 levels.
Indoor Air Quality
To promote good indoor air quality (IAQ) and public awareness of its importance, the government has introduced an IAQ Management Programme, which includes a voluntary IAQ Certification Scheme for offices and public places to recognise good IAQ management practices and to provide incentives for owners of buildings/premises or property management companies to pursue the best level of indoor air quality.
Ozone Layer Protection
The Montreal Protocol for controlling substances that deplete the ozone layer applies to Hong Kong. The Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance prohibits manufacture of these substances as well as their import for local consumption, except hydrochlorofluorocarbons. The import of these chemicals is now subject to quota control with a view to completely banning their import by 2020.
Non-road Mobile Machinery
A new regulation took effect on 1 June 2015 to control emissions from non-road mobile machinery, which includes regulated machines powered by internal combustion engines, such as crawler cranes, air compressors and excavators. New machinery supplied for use in Hong
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