Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD) reiterated Monday that Hong Kong does not tolerate foul air and more efforts will be made to improve its air quality by reducing vehicle emission and combating air pollution from power plants.

The department made the pledge in response to the very high Air Pollution Indices (API) on Saturday and Sunday.

The highest API on Sunday morning was 149 recorded at Causeway Bay. The EPD advised people with existing heart or respiratory illnesses to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities.

The emission of sulfur dioxide in Hong Kong has actually risen by 47 percent between 1997 and 2004. To achieve a sustained improvement in the air quality, power companies must substantially reduce their emissions, said a spokesman of the EPD.

Power generation emits 92 percent of the sulfur dioxide and half of the nitrogen oxides in Hong Kong. Hence the EPD puts power plants under close surveillance.

"Apart from making efforts to reduce emissions, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has been working with the Guangdong Authorities to reduce emissions of the entire Pearl River Delta (PRD) Region," he said.

On September 28, 2005, Hong Kong and Guangdong Province pledged to implement the PRD Regional Air Quality Management Plan (Management Plan) progressively with a view to achieving the agreed emissions reduction targets for air pollutants by 2010.

The spokesman said, in 2006, the major tasks under the Management Plan will include the completion of the Phase I construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trunk pipeline in Guangdong Province and further implementation of National III motor vehicle emission standards in Pearl River Delta cities while Hong Kong will implement Euro IV motor vehicle emission standards in line with the EU.

In addition, the data collected by the Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network will be analyzed by environmental protection authorities.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2006)