Hong Kong has already met requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and it has far smaller per-capita emissions than most developed countries, the Secretary for Environment, Transport & Works says. Nevertheless, it will spare no efforts to reduce emissions, to help mitigate global warming.

Speaking in reply to a question from Choy So-yuk in the Legislative Council today, Dr Sarah Liao noted that Hong Kong is only a small emitter of greenhouse gases on a global scale, representing approximately 0.2% ot total global emissions.

In 2000, the emission per capita was 5.9 tonnes - comparable to the global average of  four to five tonnes, and much lower than the levels of such developed economies as the US at 24.9 tonnes, Australia at 26.2 tonnes, Canada at 23.6 tonnes, and European Union Member States at 7.8 to 17.7 tonnes.

"Even if these economies meet their respective Kyoto targets by 2010, their per capita emission will still be much higher than that of Hong Kong," Dr Liao noted.

Measures to reduce gas emissions

Carbon dioxide emitted from power plants accounts for about 60% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong. Since 1996, the Government has allowed only the construction of natural gas-fired power units, which emit 50% less carbon dioxide than coal-fired ones.

Coal-fired units generate half of Hong Kong's electricity, but this will gradually fall as natural-gas fired units contribute more power. Meanwhile, the Administration has encouraged power companies to boost the efficiency of their coal-fired units to reduce their gas emissions.

Air-conditioning units account for 30% of Hong Kong's overall power consumption. The Government has stepped up promotion of water-cooled air conditioning which saves 20-30% of energy - and therefore cuts gas emissions.

Land transport contributes 15% of gas emissions

Because land transport contributes about 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, taxi and light-bus operators have been urged to switch to liquefied petroleum gas to reduce the generation of air pollutants as well as gas emissions.

About 98% of taxis - 17,800 of them - and 10% of light buses, about 650 of them, use LPG. And the numbers are increasing, Dr Liao said.

Another 10% of greenhouse gases come from landfills. The Government is conducting a study of technology options for waste-treatment facilities that would reduce the amount of waste going into landfills - and the amount of gas they emit.

"We will also step up the collection of landfill gas for use as fuel, so as to minimise the greenhouse effect it produces and reduce the use of fuels of higher global warming potential," Dr Liao told LegCo. 

Trees planted to help absorb carbon dioxide

Since 1991, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has planted more than 5 million trees in the country parks which absorb carbon dioxide

There are several ongoing studies being done with Government departments to help Hong Kong cut the amount of greenhouse gases it emits. They include:

* the role of renewable energy in the electricity market after 2008;

* waste-to-energy technology, the tapping of energy from waste by non-polluting methods;

* mixed fuels for motor vehicles, and the addition of a certain proportion of bio-fuels into diesel;

* legislative controls on CO2 emissions of motor vehicles; and

* improving the burning efficiency of coal-fired units.

Dr Liao pointed out that Hong Kong's population is estimated to swell to 7.45 million in 2010, up from just 5.7 million in 1990,