The following is the question raised by Hon. Hui Cheung Ching and the written reply given by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Gordon Siu, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question :
It is reported that according to a research study, if air pollution continues to worsen, Hong Kong will become an uninhabitable place in 15 years' time. One of the contributors to air pollution in Hong Kong is the use of low-grade diesel purchased in the Mainland by the returning cross-border heavy goods vehicles. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the annual average figures in respect of the following in various areas of Hong Kong over the past three years:
(i) the air pollution index; and
(ii)the concentrations of respirable suspended particulates, nitrogen dioxide and ozone in the air;
(b) how these figures compare with those in major cities in the world; and
(c) whether it has assessed the impact of the use of low-grade diesel purchased in the Mainland by the returning cross-border vehicles on the air quality in Hong Kong, and the measures in place to deter such a practice?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a)(i) The annual average air pollution index (API) for various areas of Hong Kong is provided at Appendix A. It should be noted that prior to June 1998, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) only compiled the annual average API on the basis of three broad categories: urban area, industrial area and new development area. From June 1998 onwards, the API system was enhanced to enable the reporting of API for individual monitoring stations.
(a)(ii) The average concentration levels of respirable suspended particulates, nitrogen dioxide and ozone in various areas in Hong Kong over the past three years are provided at Appendix B.
(b) Comparisons of our air quality figures with those in other major cities are provided at Appendix C, D and E.
Our major problem is with respirable suspended particulates (RSP), which is attributable mainly to diesel vehicle emissions. In this regard, our annual average concentration level of RSP is comparable to those of the more polluted cities but not among the worst.
(c) Lower quality vehicle diesel may be brought into Hong Kong in the fuel tanks of cross-boundary goods vehicles. This is permitted under the current Dutiable Commodities Regulations as long as the fuel is for use by that vehicle and does not exceed the prescribed limits.
The main difference in fuel quality is the sulphur content. In Hong Kong, the sulphur content of vehicle diesel is limited to below 0.05%. The EPD has sample checked the sulphur content of the vehicle diesel brought into Hong Kong in the fuel tanks of cross-boundary goods vehicles. It was found that their sulphur content was about 0.3%. A vehicle using diesel with this level of sulphur content could result in about 10% higher particulate emissions. About 12,000 cross boundary goods vehicles come into Hong Kong each day, compared with the total number of 150,000 diesel vehicles in Hong Kong. We estimate that the overall particulate emissions from vehicle fleet may be reduced by about 1% to 2% if cross boundary goods vehicles could use diesel meeting Hong Kong standards.
Vehicle engine design and emission standards have much more effect on emission levels than fuel. We have tightened the vehicle emission standards for diesel vehicles a number of times in recent years. The particulate emissions from vehicles meeting the latest EURO II standards will be 80% less than the older models. But we recognise the use of sub-standard vehicle diesel will detract from our efforts to improve the air quality. We are therefore studying the feasibility of reducing the quantities of duty-free vehicle diesel carried by goods vehicles entering Hong Kong.
End/Wednesday, March 24, 1999
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