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Vehicle exhaust is an important source of NO and NO2 in terms of impact on local air quality. It is also a major source of airborne particulate matter, especially the smaller respirable particles.

Diesel-engined vehicles such as taxis, public light buses, passenger coaches, franchised buses and light and heavy goods vehicles are the greatest contributor of particulate matter. Other sources include industry, furnaces and boilers, construction activities, the sea and the soil.

It is worth noting that while the weather and climate always affect the concentrations of pollutants in the air, the only sure way of reducing the levels is to reduce emissions from the man-made sources.

End

Secondary Four places allocation should continue

Members of the Board of Education (BOE) today (Monday) endorsed that the Secondary Four Places (SFP) Allocation Method for the Junior Secondary Education Assessment (JSEA) System should continue.

Assistant Director of Education Mr Anthony Tong Kai-hong told the meeting that since the 1993/94 school year, the SFP Allocation Method has been adopted for the JSEA System.

Mr Tong said "under this method, students' academic performance and parental choices form the basis of selection and allocation of Secondary 3 leavers to subsidised Secondary 4 places.

"The SFP Allocation Method was introduced with the understanding that it would be reviewed after two years of implementation," Mr Tong noted.

He pointed out that a working group to review the SFP Allocation Method was set up last December to deliberate on the comments and feedback from schools, major schools councils/associations and public.

Mr Tong said that after reviewing the major features and statistics of the SFP Allocation Method, the working group recommended that the method should continue.

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