A bill cutting smog-forming pollutants was gazetted today, for tabling at the Legislative Council on November 29. If passed, the cuts will be implemented in phases from next April.

The Air Pollution Control [Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)] Regulation will ban the import and local manufacture of products whose VOC contents exceed prescribed limits.

Products that will come under the regulation include paint, ink and six types of consumer goods, like hairspray, air fresheners, insecticide, insect repellent, floor wax strippers and multi-purpose lubricants. The regulation also requires emission-reduction devices to be installed on certain printing machines.

The new law will cut 8,000 tonnes of local VOC emissions, a major category of pollutants responsible for smog that reduces Hong Kong's visibility.