ENG-2018 — Page 296

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The Environment

The department takes action to reduce emissions from local polluting sources. Between 2009 and 2017, emissions of SO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx), RSP and volatile organic compounds dropped 25 percentage points to 74 per cent. From 2009 to 2018, ambient concentrations of RSP, fine suspended particulates, NO2 and SO2 dropped 30 per cent, 35 per cent, 22 per cent and 57 per cent respectively, while roadside concentrations of the same fell 36 per cent, 29 per cent, 25 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. Ambient ozone increased 21 per cent, indicating that the regional photochemical smog problem remains challenging. The department engages in regional collaboration to tackle the problem.

Land Transport

Vehicle emissions are the major source of roadside air pollution. The government's policy is to apply the most stringent motor vehicle fuel and emission standards practicable.

Nearly all taxis and about 79 per cent of public light buses run on LPG. The first registration tax is reduced for buyers of newly registered environment-friendly commercial vehicles, which have low emissions. An incentive and regulatory scheme, launched in 2014 to phase out some 82,000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles by the end of 2019, had put about 66,800 such vehicles out of service by end-2018.

Controls are in place to curb excessive smoke from diesel vehicles and excessive emissions from petrol and LPG vehicles due to poor maintenance. During the year, 2,923 diesel vehicles with excessive smoke were reported and 5,784 petrol and LPG vehicles with excessive emissions were identified by roadside remote sensors. Such vehicles must pass a chassis dynamometer emission test at a test centre within 12 days to prove the emission problem has been rectified.

The government offers concessions in the first registration tax of electric vehicles. The tax on electric commercial vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles is fully waived until 31 March 2021. From 28 February 2018 to 31 March 2021, the tax concession for electric private cars is capped at $97,500 and a One-for-One Replacement Scheme is in effect. Under the scheme, owners of eligible private cars who arrange to scrap and de-register their cars and then register a new electric private car are granted a higher tax concession, of up to $250,000. In 2018, the number of electric vehicles increased 3.5 per cent year on year to 11,600, including government and special-purpose vehicles, while 2,166 public chargers were available for public use, including 498 quick and 824 medium chargers.

To promote mass transit systems that are pollution-free at the street level, the government gives priority to rail over road and encourages innovation.

Marine Transport

Marine vessels are a major air emission source in Hong Kong. The government caps the sulphur content in locally supplied marine light diesel at 0.05 per cent and requires ocean-going vessels to switch to low-sulphur fuel while at berth.

Hong Kong is also working with the Mainland to cut regional vessel emissions, including by establishing a domestic marine emission control area in the Pearl River Delta waters by 2019.

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