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The Environment

Marine Transport

Marine vessels are a major air pollutant emission source in Hong Kong. The government caps the sulphur content in locally supplied marine light diesel at 0.05 per cent. To dovetail with the implementation of marine air pollutant emission control areas in the Mainland's coastal waters, from 2019 the government required all vessels in Hong Kong waters to use compliant fuel, such as fuel with sulphur content not exceeding 0.5 per cent and liquefied natural gas.

Power Generation

Power plants are a major source of local emissions. The government tightens statutory emission caps on the power sector progressively and encourages the power companies to use cleaner fuel. In 2019, the emission caps of three key air pollutants, namely SO2, NOx and RSP, from the power sector in 2024 and beyond were further reduced by 69 per cent to 87 per cent compared with 2010 levels.

Indoor Air Quality

On 1 July, the government revised indoor air quality objectives under a voluntary certification scheme for offices and public places. The scheme encourages participating property owners and management companies to enhance indoor air quality at their premises.

Ozone Layer Protection

The Montreal Protocol for controlling substances that deplete the ozone layer applies to Hong Kong. The Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance prohibits the manufacture of these substances and their import for local consumption, except hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which are subject to import quotas with a view to imposing a blanket import ban by 2020.

Non-road Mobile Machinery

Non-road mobile machinery newly supplied for use in Hong Kong are required to meet statutory emission requirements, namely the Euro Stage IIIA emission standard for machines. such as crawler cranes, air compressors and excavators. Starting from 1 January 2019, the statutory emission standards for newly approved non-road vehicles have been tightened in phases to Euro VI, which is in line with the emission standards for newly registered road vehicles. All machinery to be used in specified activities or locations, such as Hong Kong International Airport, container terminals and construction sites, must bear EPD-issued labels.

Noise Pollution

Road Traffic Noise

To mitigate the impact of traffic noise on residents, proponents of development projects are required to assess traffic noise impact when planning new roads and residential developments, provide direct mitigation measures such as noise barriers and low-noise road surfacing for new roads, and adopt innovative noise mitigation designs such as acoustic balconies and windows. All newly registered vehicles must comply with internationally recognised noise standards. As regards existing roads, the government installs noise barriers and lays low-noise road surfacing materials, with 106 road sections enhanced through these efforts as at end-2019.

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