Asia/Pacific News
Hong Kong NGO Urges Shore Power at Cruise Terminal
Hong Kong-based non-governmental organisation Clean Air Network (CAN) is urging the city's government to adopt shore power at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal "as soon as possible" in light of worsening air quality.
Writing in a response to last week's 2015 policy address, CAN also reiterated its call for mandatory switching of marine fuels to those with a sulfur limit lower than 0.5 percent, and for the creation of an Emission Control Area (ECA) in the greater Pearl River Delta waters.
"Marine emission has become the major source of air pollutants in Hong Kong. Levels of sulphur dioxide (SO2), an indicator of marine emissions, exceeded the WHO annual guideline (5 µg/m3) at all monitoring stations except Tai Po," said CAN.
"Kwai Chung had the highest SO2 levels among all stations, followed by Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Tuen Mun and Tung Chung."
Ozone concentrations for 2014 also increased over 2013 levels in most areas, and reached record heights, CAN noted.
"This indicates regional air has been deteriorating over these years," it said.
Last year CAN renewed its push to establish ECAs after reporting that air pollution had reached its highest level in a decade.
