Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has all along been actively studying the causes of air pollution in Hong Kong and in the Pearl River Delta together with the most practicable mitigating measures, said a senior official Wednesday.

Hong Kong Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Sarah Liao, said at the Legislative Council meeting Wednesday that since 1999, the government has implemented a number of enhanced control measures to reduce motor vehicle emissions, including introducing LPG taxis and ultra low sulfur diesels, tightening the motor vehicle emission standards to Euro III and retrofitting pre-Euro diesel vehicles.

She said the research and actions taken by the government in this aspect in recent years include a study on the regional air quality jointly conducted by the Hong Kong EPD and the Guangdong Environmental Protection Bureau between 1999 and 2002.

She said Hong Kong's economic recovery in the past year has increased the demand for energy. Together with the fuel problem, there is evident increase in the pollution from electricity generation process. At present, the most important task is to implement energy saving measures.

The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has already been promoting Energy Efficiency Labeling Scheme for various products and Energy Efficiency Registration Scheme for Buildings. All government offices are required to maintain room temperature at or above 25.5 degrees Celsius, which could save 10 percent of electricity used in air conditioning.

In addition, the government is actively pursuing with the two power companies on emissions control and increasing the share of natural gas in electricity generation. The discussion with power plants will proceed in accordance with the provisions in the existing Scheme of Control Agreement.

She added that, on the basis of the study on regional air quality, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and the Guangdong Provincial Government reached a consensus in April 2002 to reduce the regional emissions of sulfur dioxide 40 percent by 2010 on a best endeavor basis.

In December 2003, the two governments jointly drew up the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan with a view to meeting the above emission reduction targets. A special panel was set up to follow up on that plan. To date, the panel has conducted nine working meetings and four site visits.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2004)