Civic Exchange, an independent Hong Kong think tank, is urging the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government to "take swift actions" to improve air quality with measures including limits on ship emissions, particularly in light of a new report on the issue, Ship & Bunker reports.
The Audit Commission Report suggests the creation and management of air quality objectives (AQOs) has not been adequate and calls for time targets and milestones for improvements.
Civic Exchange says the biggest priority in curbing local emission sources must be cleaning up ships and diesel commercial vehicles.
"Ships have become the biggest emitter of respirable suspended particulates (36%) and nitrogen oxides (32%), and the second biggest emitter of sulphur dioxide (48%)," said Simon Ng, Head of Transport and Sustainability Research of Civic Exchange.
"Regulations are badly required for the control of ship emissions such as the use of low sulphur fuel at berth.
"In the long run, an emission control area should be set up in Pearl River Delta waters to maximize emission reduction and public health improvement."
The Hong Kong government has declared itself "very determined" to set up an Emissions Control Area (ECA), which would be the first in Asia.
The Civic Exchange also calls for collaboration with Guangdong in managing the region's air quality, something government officials have said will be necessary in part so that ships do not simply shift to the Guangdong ports of Shekou and Yantian to avoid Hong Kong rules.
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