Saving our ozone: From 2004, the Environmental Protection Department will reduce the import quota for HCFCs to protect the ozone layer.

The Environmental Protection Department will reduce the import quota for hydrochloro-fluorocarbons(HCFCs) controlled under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance from 2004.

The import quota for all 34 types of HCFCs will be reduced by 35% across the board, from 138.9 weighted tonnes to 90.3.

The department made the announcement today, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Acting Principal Environmental Protection Officer Chau Chi-ming said: "We have been making a contribution to protecting the ozone layer and complying with the requirements for developed economies such as the European Union, the US, Canada and Japan under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer."

The import of chlorofluorocarbons for local consumption has been banned since 1996, as they are ozone-depleting substances.

"The quota reduction for HCFCs is a further move to fulfil our obligation to join the global efforts to protect the ozone layer," Mr Chau said.

HCFCs are used mainly for cooling and refrigerating. They have very low ozone depleting potential and are generally regarded as the intermediates to the final substitutes that cause no harm to our ozone layer.

Importation of HCFCs is currently subject to a licensing and quota control to ensure that the quantity for local consumption does not exceed the base level of 1996.

According to the Montreal Protocol, Hong Kong should reduce in phases local consumption of HCFCs to zero by 2030.

Mr Chau called on the public and the trades to help protect the ozone layer by using more ozone-layer friendly alternatives.

For further details on the HCFC quota reduction and other information related to the protection of the ozone layer, you can contact the department's Air Management Group at 2594 6242 or 2594 6234, or visit its website.