Air quality plan unveiled

Sets target for 2015 through 2020.

According to a report, the Environment Bureau has welcomed the Shenzhen Air Quality Enhancement Plan released on September 27, which sets out clear air quality targets as well as air pollution prevention and control measures for Shenzhen.

The plan includes implementing desulfurisation, denitrification and dust removal technologies for coal-fired power generating units; promoting cleaner power generation; improving motor fuel quality and tightening vehicle emission standards; phasing out high-emission vehicles and promoting the use of new-energy vehicles; controlling emissions from vessels and non-road mobile sources; promoting cleaner production to industries; and, controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds.

The Government unveiled the "A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong" in March, which puts forward a series of air quality improvement measures covering land and sea transport, power plants and non-road mobile machinery to tackle air pollution.

The measures to be taken forward under Hong Kong and Shenzhen's plans should contribute to the improvement of regional air quality in the Pearl River Delta and help achieve delta emission-reduction targets for 2015 and 2020, which were the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments set last year.

Hong Kong will continue to collaborate with Guangdong and Shenzhen in the establishment of regional joint mechanisms to prevent and control air pollution, and enhance co-operation in those key areas to further improve air quality in the delta region, the bureau said.