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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (February 2) :

Question:

It has been reported that industrial pollution in Chiwan of Shekou, which is close to the New Territories, has been serious in recent years. Moreover, the dark smoke dust emitted from the power stations, refuse incineration plants and factories there may drift to the New Territories with the wind and affect the health of local residents. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether any air quality monitoring stations have been established in locations within Hong Kong which are close to Chiwan of Shekou; if so, of the recorded air pollution level; if not, how the authorities monitor the situation of the above pollution problem;

(b) of the months and areas of Hong Kong which are most affected by the dark smoke dust, as projected from wind directions; and

(c) whether it has discussed with the Shenzhen Municipal Government the options for solving the above pollution problem; if it has, of the progress and results of discussion; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) In the local air quality monitoring network, the monitoring stations at Yuen Long and Tung Chung can monitor the impact on Hong Kong of air pollution in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), including Chiwan, Shekou. In 2004, the average air pollution indices (APIs) recorded by the Yuen Long and Tung Chung monitoring stations were 53 and 49 respectively, which were comparable with those recorded by other stations in the territory.

(b) As Hong Kong is to the southeast of the PRD, air pollutants originating from the PRD covering Shenzhen (including Shekou) are easily carried by a northerly or northwesterly wind to the territory. Larger particles of smog and dust usually settle near the source of pollution, while the smaller respirable suspended particulates may be carried by the wind for a long distance. When the atmosphere is stable and a weak northerly or northwesterly wind prevails in the PRD Region, pollutants tend to accumulate, thereby raising the overall pollution level in Hong Kong. As the northeastern part of Hong Kong, including Yuen Long and Tung Chung, is to the downwind side of PRD, it is more susceptible to the influence of regional air pollution than other areas.

(c) With the sustained rapid economic development in the whole PRD Region, including Shekou of Shenzhen, air pollution in the region has become more serious, resulting in a regional air pollution problem. To address this problem, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Guangdong Provincial Government reached a consensus in April 2002 on the reduction of regional emissions and drew up the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan in December 2003, under which the Guangdong Provincial Government will implement a package of enhanced air pollution control measures in the PRD Region, including Shekou of Shenzhen, with a view to meeting the emission reduction targets.

The Environmental Protection Department has all along been working closely with the Shenzhen authorities on the regional air pollution problem. To reduce air pollutant emissions in Nanshan, Shenzhen (where Shekou is located), the municipal government has started implementing the following emission reduction measures under the Management Plan:

(i) Expediting the construction of desulphurisation facilities for power plants:the flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) retrofitting works for three units in Mawan Power Plant have been completed, while those for the remaining three units will be completed in late 2006;

(ii) To enhance the monitoring of emissions from motor vehicles, the environmental protection and traffic police authorities of Shenzhen have stepped up annual inspections and road checks on emissions from all types of motor vehicles. Owners of vehicles failing to meet the emission standards are penalised and required to carry out repairs until the standards are met. Additional police officers are also deployed to improve traffic flow so as to minimise emissions from slow-moving motor vehicles;

(iii) Upon the commissioning of the liquefied natural gas facilities in Guangdong in 2006, enterprises using fuel oils will modify their facilities progressively so as to switch to natural gas;

(iv) The 15 printing and dyeing factories in Nanyou have all switched to gas-fired energy provided by the Nanshan Power Station Company and the oil-fired boilers in individual plants have been replaced;

(v) The refuse incineration plant in Nanshan was retrofitted with emission reduction facilities in 2004, using FGD and dust removal technologies.

Ends/Wednesday, February 2, 2005

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