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In response to media enquires today (February 24) about reports on roadside Air Pollution Index (API) statistics of 2013, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) explained that there were a total of 132 days with the roadside API exceeding 100 in 2013.
The number of days with the roadside API exceeding 100 in 2010, 2011 and 2012 were 141, 172 and 142 days respectively.
"The Government has been taking serious actions to improve our air quality at all fronts," an EPD spokesman added.
Among other measures, the Government has put forward the following to reduce our emissions:
(1) phase out some 82 000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles in phases from March 1, 2014;
(2) retrofit Euro II and Euro III franchised buses with selective catalytic reduction devices to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides;
(3) subsidise the replacement of the catalytic converters and oxygen sensors of petrol/liquefied petroleum gas taxis and light buses;
(4) tighten the sulphur content of the local marine diesel from 0.5 per cent to 0.05 per cent, starting from April 2014; and
(5) prepare a regulation to mandate fuel-switching at berth for ocean-going vessels for implementation in 2015.
Together with other emission reduction initiatives including the tightening of the emission caps of power plants, control of emissions from non-road mobile machinery and joint co-operation with the Guangdong Provincial Government to reduce the regional emissions, Hong Kong's air quality should be significantly improved upon the completion of these measures.
Ends/Monday, February 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:16
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