Hong Kong to cut power plant pollution

Hong Kong intends to curtail emissions from its power plants by as much as 17% by 2017.

The government announced new emissions reductions targets that aim to cut emissions of three of the five main air pollutants bedeviling the city: sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 16 respirable suspended particulates (RSP). The cuts range from 6% to 17%.

The power generation sector accounts for 50% of the city's SO2; 25% of its NOx and 16% of RSP emissions, said the Environmental Protection Department, which also believes the tightened emission rules will help improve the air quality in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region.

"The new emission caps will require the power companies to continue their efforts to use low-emission coal as far as possible."

The new targets were announced as Hong Kong recorded very high pollution levels last week that triggered an official health warning for those with respiratory illnesses to reduce outdoor activities. Hong Kong saw its worst pollution in years in August, which broke air pollutant readings record since 1999.

Emissions from factories in southern China combine with local emissions from power plants and vehicle traffic to create an almost daily blanket of suffocating pollution over Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s secretary for the environment, Wong Kam-sing, said the government is considering a ban on old diesel vehicles that he blamed for fueling high levels of street-level pollution.

After nine consecutive days in which the government was forced to issue health warnings over high air-pollution levels, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying pledged to do more to combat the pollution.

“We will vigorously improve air quality,” he said, including the possible adoption of initiatives based on a “polluters pay” principle.