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Following is a question by the Hon James Tien and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (December 1):

Question:

As air pollution continues to worsen in Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) it has assessed the losses to the local economy caused by air pollution; if so, of the outcome of the assessment;

(b) it has offered any assistance to the Guangdong authorities in reducing the emissions; if so, of the details of such assistance; and

(c) it will discuss with the Guangdong authorities enhanced efforts to reduce emissions in Guangdong, so that the emission reduction targets for 2010 can be achieved at an earlier date?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) According to a study commissioned by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and conducted by the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2002, using the air quality and population data for 2000, economic losses (including consultation and hospitalisation fees and productivity loss incurred) caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases possibly related to air pollution may total $1.7 billion each year.

Economic burdens and losses attributable to air pollution are often indirect, long-term and inconspicuous. However, expenditure on air quality improvement, such as switching to LPG taxis and reducing power plant emissions, is both direct and immediate. In addition, changes in the economy are determined by a multitude of factors. For example, while the deterioration of air quality and the smog problem in the whole Pearl River Delta (PRD) region became noticeable since late 1990s, the number of regional headquarters and regional offices established by foreign enterprises in Hong Kong increased from 816 to 1 098 and from 1 491 to 2 511 respectively between 1999 and 2004. It is however impossible to collect statistical data or confirm whether there have been investors who are turned away by the air pollution problem.

(b) Improving the air quality of the whole PRD region is the common aspiration of Guangdong and Hong Kong and the two governments are working in co-operation to reduce regional emissions on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Since air pollution control started earlier in Hong Kong, we are often able to share our experience with the Mainland authorities responsible for environmental protection in our co-operation. Apart from putting forward our views and providing information for their reference, we also assist in the training of environmental protection staff in the Mainland through exchanges and visits.

For instance, on the establishment of a regional air quality monitoring network, the EPD of Hong Kong and the environment monitoring authorities of Guangdong Province have conducted many exchanges, including site selection for monitoring stations, compilation of the operation manual, quality control manual and data management and user manual for the monitoring network and acceptance tests for monitoring stations. In addition, the environmental protection authorities of the two places are jointly compiling an emission inventory of air pollutants and a manual on the compilation of such inventories so that the two places can adopt a common approach in assessing the quantities of emissions and the progress of emission reduction efforts annually. Experience-sharing workshops on the compilation of such inventories have also been organised.

Guangdong and Hong Kong have also run workshops on controlling air pollution caused by motor vehicles to allow provincial and municipal authorities in the PRD and relevant authorities in Hong Kong to share experience with a view to further enhancing the measures to reduce motor vehicle emissions in the region. Technical officers from the Guangdong Environment Monitoring Centre have come to the EPD of Hong Kong for three weeks under an exchange programme to gain practical experience. On the other hand, our officers have conducted site visits jointly with their Guangdong counterparts to inspect the progress of emission reduction and the installation of desulphurisation facilities at nine power plants in Guangdong Province.

Our bureau will continue to do its best to enhance, both in depth and in scope, the co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province on technical and policy exchanges in respect of air quality improvement.

(c) In April 2002, Guangdong and Hong Kong reached a consensus on emission reduction with a view to improving the air quality of the whole region. To ensure that the measures taken by both sides can achieve the ultimate objective of improving regional air quality, the two governments are setting up a regional air quality monitoring network which will come into operation next year. Based on the data collected by the monitoring network and the results of other detailed analyses, the two places will review annually the progress of the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan and consider whether it is necessary and practicable to introduce additional emission reduction measures or shorten the emission reduction timetable.

Ends/Wednesday, December 1, 2004

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