Legislation and Control

Planning to prevent future problems is only part of the equation. The government also needs to deal with the present pollution in Hong Kong. Laws are now in place governing air, water, waste and noise pollution and the EPD is responsible for implementing most of the measures in these main pollution control ordinances.

Air pollution is controlled through the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, which was extended in 1998 to tighten emission standards for diesel cars and light duty vehicles other than taxis. The Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance is another air-related law which bans the import and manufacture of substances that deplete the ozone layer and enables Hong Kong to meet its international obligations under the 1987 Montreal Protocol on the issue.

Smoky vehicles will have to undergo tests on a tamper-proof treadmill from mid-1999.

This lorry took part in a trial in 1998 to test heavy vehicles using the treadmill

Water pollution is controlled through the Water Pollution Control Ordinance. Like the other pollution ordinances, it controls discharges through a licensing system. Another water-related law is the Dumping At Sea Ordinance passed in 1995, which enables Hong Kong to fulfil its obligations under the London Convention to prevent damage to the marine environment from dumping waste in the water.

Water quality is also affected by livestock waste, which is controlled under the Waste Disposal Ordinance. These controls were extended to cover all of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1997. The ordinance also covers the import and export of waste and shipments of hazardous waste from developed countries to Hong Kong were banned in 1998.

Hong Kong's treated sewage will be discharged off east Lamma.

                             River water quality is regularly tested and has shown gradual improvements.

The Noise Control Ordinance was amended in 1997 to tighten control of percussive piling noise, a long-standing source of complaints from the public. Vehicle burglar alarms were also brought under control.

Transparent noise barriers are more pleasant than conventional barriers.

The quieter mini-milling machine grinds asphalt rather than smashing it.

An important tool in the development of legislation is that of monitoring the environment to identify the sources and quantities of pollution generated by the community, and their effects. The EPD has a comprehensive monitoring programme, especially for water and air quality and waste loads, and this gives an objective basis for new laws, policies and programmes. It also has computer modelling programmes to predict future problems.