Hong Kong and Guangdong will strenghen co-operation in environmental protection by introducing emission caps for Hong Kong power plants, and tightening emission controls at major pollution sources in the Pearl River Delta (PRD).

This is part of agreement the two sides reached at the sixth meeting of Hong Kong-Guangdong Joint Working Group on Sustainable Development & Environmental Protection in Guangzhou today.

They also agreed to study the feasibility of advancing the implementation of more stringent vehicle emission standards in Mainland cities, and stepping up regular inspection of in-use vehicles.

The measures aim to consolidate achievements in the Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Management Plan.

On combating air pollution from the power generation industry, Phase I construction of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trunk pipeline in Guangdong Province will be completed in 2006 and a number of LNG power plants are expected to be commissioned in phases.

This will substantially reduce the PRD's reliance on the more polluting fuel oil and coal. Existing oil-fired and coal-fired power plants in Guangdong Province will continue to install flue gas desulphurisation systems.

Major tasks

In 2006, the major tasks under the Management Plan include:

* controlling emissions from motor vehicles - the Guangdong Provincial Government will strive to advance the implementation of National III motor vehicle emission standards (on a par with Euro III ones) in PRD cities while Hong Kong will implement Euro IV standards in line with the EU in 2006;

* the two governments' environmental protection authorities will analyse data collected by the Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network. A regional air quality monitoring report will be submitted on a half-yearly basis, providing the public with more information on the PRD's air quality;

* the environmental protection authorities will strengthen technical exchange and joint studies, especially on continuous emissions monitoring of stationary pollution sources and commissioning studies on regional air pollution on a need basis; and,