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The Environment

energy audits every 10 years. By end-2028, the enforcement of the ordinance is expected to bring about total energy savings of some 27 billion kWh from new and existing buildings, equivalent to the total annual electricity use of about 5.8 million households and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about 19 million tonnes.

Having successfully met its earlier 5 per cent target for 2015-16 to 2019-20, the government aims to save 6 per cent of energy used by government buildings and infrastructure from 2020-21 to 2024-25 under operating conditions comparable to 2018-19. For private buildings, the capital cost of buying renewable-energy installations and building energy-efficient installations is tax deductible. From the 2018-19 year of assessment, the tax deduction can be claimed in full in one year, instead of spread over five years as previously.

Retro-commissioning is a cost-effective and useful means of saving energy in existing buildings. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department organises seminars to help building owners. and relevant trades carry out retro-commissioning. Starting from 2019, $215 million has been earmarked to retro-commission over 200 major government buildings to raise their energy efficiency, with about 40 undergoing retro-commissioning in 2020.

Under the current Scheme of Control Agreements, the power companies will promote energy efficiency and conservation. Each company manages its own energy-efficiency fund to support the retrofitting and retro-commissioning of private buildings.

Hong Kong chairs the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation and hosted its meetings in 2020.

Pollution Prevention

Air Pollution

In 2020, the ambient concentrations of major air pollutants broadly complied with the government's air quality objectives. The EPD has put forward legislative amendments to tighten the objectives and aims to complete the legislative process in 2021.

Between 2009 and 2018, emissions of SO2, nitrogen oxides (NOx), RSP and volatile organic compounds dropped by between 29 per cent and 74 per cent. From 2011 to 2020, ambient concentrations of RSP, fine suspended particulates, NO2 and SO2 dropped 44 per cent, 55 per cent, 38 per cent and 62 per cent respectively, while roadside concentrations of the same fell 48 per cent, 50 per cent, 43 per cent and 58 per cent respectively. Ambient ozone concentration increased 27 per cent, indicating that the regional photochemical smog problem remains challenging. The EPD will collaborate with the Guangdong and Macao governments on a three-year joint regional ozone study 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.

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