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The Government will table a new regulation made under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance to implement an international convention in preventing air pollution to the marine environment by ships.
A spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (July 4), ˇ§The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution) Regulation is made to implement Annex VI to the 'International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and as further amended by the Protocol of 1997ˇ¦ adopted by the International Maritime Organization in Hong Kong. This will align our local legal requirements relating to air pollution from ships with international standards, consolidating Hong Kongˇ¦s position as an international maritime centre.ˇ¨
This regulation imposes restrictions on the emissions of harmful substances, such as ozone depleting substances, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and sulphur oxide from ships. It also seeks to control the quality of fuel oil used on board and regulates shipboard incineration. The regulation requires ships of 400 gross tonnage or above to be surveyed and have on board the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificates or the Hong Kong Air Pollution Prevention Certificates before engaging in international or non-international voyages as appropriate.
The Government will publish the Regulation in gazette on Friday (July 6) and table it at the Legislative Council on July 11 for negative vetting.
Ends/Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:00
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